The north Belfast school crisis can trigger a political settlement in Northern Ireland, Secretary of State John Reid said tonight.
As the RUC seized a consignment of suspect loyalist blast bombs in the city, Dr Reid said all sides faced a clear choice following the violence linked to protests over Catholic pupils being escorted to school through a Protestant area.
Dr Reid said: "They can use those events to entrench their positions, to blame the other side, or they can use that crisis as a spur to finding a political resolution of the deep bitterness and hatred that seems to exist in certain sections of the community."
The fourth day of the protests passed off free of any incident after the loyalist residents in the Upper Ardoyne changed tactics, turning their backs on the Holy Cross girls, blowing whistles and horns as they passed through.
Dr Reid was tonight due to meet the RUC Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan, security officials and the Board of Governors at the school to discuss the situation.
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Protestant school girls blow whistles
as Catholic children pass on their way to school. |
He is also expected to hold discussions with security minister Ms Jane Kennedy after her meeting yesterday with political leaders from North Belfast.
Dr Reid jetted back to Belfast today after he cut short his holiday in a bid to resolve the Holy Cross School crisis.
On his arrival he insisted the North's "slide into barbarism" was not inevitable.
The Northern Secretary added: "The first thing we have to do is try to isolate those who on the backs of potential grievances in north Belfast have attempted to carry out savage sectarian attacks."
A group representing parents have appealed for people from across Belfast to attend a peaceful rally in Ardoyne tomorrow.
The Right to Education Group urged all religious leaders in Ireland to come and escort the children and parents to classes and called on Northern Ireland's political leaders to meet parents.
Sinn Fein President Mr Gerry Adams today met the Right to Education group and offered to talk to the loyalists trying to prevent nationalists coming through their estate.
The West Belfast MP insisted there could be no justification for what he described as bigoted, sectarian abuse being hurled at the youngsters.
"Even if this blockade was an entirely peaceful one, even if it was an entirely silent one, it would still be wrong," he said.
Some young Protestant girls dressed in their own school uniforms were among those creating a barrage of noise on the Ardoyne Road.
The new protests followed the terror of yesterday when a blast bomb exploded just yards from screaming children as young as four.
Some Catholic mothers had refused to make the 400-yard walk today after receiving a death threat from the loyalist paramilitary Red Hand Defenders, a cover for the Ulster Defence Association.
An RUC spokesman confirmed a number of people in the area were warned last night about their personal security.
The change in tactics by the loyalist protesters today was welcomed by the RUC Assistant Chief Constable Alan McQuillan.
He noted: "Today saw a significant change in the nature and character of the protest which allowed the police operation to be adjusted accordingly."
But nationalist representatives insisted more needed to be done.
Sinn Fein's North Belfast Assemblyman Mr Gerry Kelly said: "It's better than yesterday, the physical attacks did not happen, but children were still frightened . . . To describe it as a peaceful protest is erroneous."
The SDLP Assembly member for the area, Mr Alban Maginness, still described the Protestant attitude as "belligerent", saying he wanted to see a a further de-escalation in loyalist protests so children can go peacefully to school.
PA