The Five Demands

Two hurt in Belfast city centre trouble (UTV)

Two police officers have been injured during trouble which erupted during a loyalist flag protest in Belfast city centre.

A heavy police presence dealt with around 200 people who gathered in the Shaftesbury Square area on Friday night.

A water cannon was used to disperse the crowd at Bradbury Place after bottles and other missiles were thrown at police.

A car was set on fire on Donegall Road and another vehicle was torched at nearby Combermere Street.

Traffic was disrupted after a number of people gathered, some of whom were carrying Union flags and blocked the road.

Police have confirmed Shaftesbury Square has now reopened to traffic.

A number of small protests have also taken place in the Greater Belfast area and Bangor. A protest is also ongoing in the Ligoniel Road area in the north of the city.

The latest trouble follows a number of loyalist demonstrations across Northern Ireland this week, in the wake of a Belfast City Council vote to restrict the flying of the Union flag to 17 days a year.

Loyalist protest outside Enniskillen Townhall (The Impartial Reporter)

A loyalist protest has taken place outside Enniskillen Townhall.

Up to 150 people gathered at the Diamond to listen to an address by TUV member Alex Elliott.

Mr Elliott said he was appearing at the “peaceful protest”, hosted by Fermanagh Loyalist Forum, “as a loyalist, not a member of Traditional Unionist Voice”.

Standing on the steps of the Townhall, Mr Elliott welcomed “fellow loyalists” and said: “Let all unionists stand shoulder to shoulder in this struggle”.

Youngsters, many of whom were wearing scarves covering their faces, cheered as he criticised Sinn Fein and the SDLP who he claimed “stripped everything British from our Townhall”.

Following his address, the protesters removed their hats and scarves and bowed their heads to remember members of the security forces who have died.

Townhall Street was closed off by police for the 45 minute protest and traffic diversions were in place.

The protest came just days after Belfast City Council voted to fly the union flag on designated days only, resulting in violent clashes in the city.

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