'Significant disorder' after Belfast 'miniature' Twelfth parade

Missiles were thrown at police and police vehicles damaged. Officers fired plastic bullets and used a water cannon to disperse the crowd.

While Police say they are working with the community to try to restore order, the trouble reported was not as serious as previous rioting which broke out in the same area nearly two weeks ago during which a photographer was shot in the leg.

Friday night's trouble erupted in Castlereagh Street and Albertbridge Road, and Police moved in to prevent skirmishes between small groups of nationalists and loyalists on the Albertbridge Road, close to the Catholic enclave of Short Strand.

Larger crowds then gathered and the PSNI used Land Rovers as a barrier.

Loyalists threw stones and bottles at police in riot gear and at one stage water cannons were deployed as officers pushed the troublemakers back.

"Police are dealing with significant disorder... following the mini Twelfth parade in east Belfast," a police spokeswoman said.

"A number of missiles have been thrown at police and police vehicles have been damaged."

The BBC is reporting that even after the trouble eventually stopped, a large police presence was required overnight to keep the peace.

Two weeks ago petrol bombs and other missiles were thrown at police over two nights.

Three shots were fired during the second night of disturbances. A photographer was shot in the leg in some of the worst rioting in the area for a decade.

Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson said he was prepared to get "directly involved" in attempts to resolve the trouble in his east Belfast constituency.