Shots fired in north Belfast clashes

There are reports of further clashes in the Ardoyne area of north Belfast today

There are reports of further clashes in the Ardoyne area of north Belfast today. The RUC said a number of shots were fired near the Alliance Road at 11 a.m.

An 18-year old British soldier was seriously injured by a blast bomb in the same area last night in violent clashes with loyalist demonstrators.

The RUC said the soldier was in a group manning a checkpoint which was pelted with petrol bombs and other missiles to lure them into an ambush.

As they advanced to deal with the situation, a blast bomb was thrown at the 18-year-old who is critically ill in hospital.