At least one shot has been fired at police by republicans in north Belfast and there have been other disturbances after Orange Order parades in NI.

At least two police officers have been injured in the city and water cannon have been deployed to disperse rioters.

Sinn Fein’s Gerry Kelly blamed the Real IRA for the trouble in north Belfast.

In Londonderry there were minor disturbances and there has also been trouble in Rasharkin, County Antrim and Armagh.

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Alistair Finlay said it was disappointing "isolated outbreaks of violence had marred the day for all communities".

"Right across Northern Ireland there were hundreds of parades that passed off peacefully," he said.

"However, it is very disappointing that there were a minority of people, in north Belfast, Derry, Armagh, Rasharkin and other parts of Northern Ireland who showed total disregard for local communities.

"They displayed the worst possible face of Northern Ireland – a face of bigotry, sectarianism and intolerance that is not representative of the vast majority of people who have moved on and embraced a peaceful future."

Petrol bombs fireworks, stones, and bottles were thrown at police officers in Ardoyne.

Police fired up to 14 baton rounds and water cannon was deployed.

A van was also hijacked and pushed at police lines.

Mr Kelly said a "a small number of dissident republicans from outside Ardoyne" had stoked sectarian tensions and orchestrated the trouble.

"These people want to see sectarian violence on the streets of Ardoyne and north Belfast. They want to see conflict between young people and the PSNI.

NORTHERN IRELAND TROUBLE
Ardoyne

• Shots fired at police
• 14 baton rounds fired
• Water cannon deployed
• Petrol bombs and other missiles thrown
• Two officers injured
• Van pushed at police lines
• Sinn Fein blame Real IRA for trouble
• Firearm handed to police after children spotted playing with it

Londonderry

• Minor trouble at return city centre parade
• Missiles thrown
• Trouble in Butcher’s Gate
• One police officer injured

Armagh

• Device explodes on Friary Road
• Petrol bombs thrown
• Two cars stolen and set on fire
• Four people arrested

Rasharkin

• Stones, petrol bombs thrown
• Three police hurt
• One arrested

Source PSNI

"They are content to see the PSNI firing plastic bullets at young nationalists. I am not. The use of plastic bullets is unacceptable."

Earlier a firearm was handed into police after a group of children were found playing with it.

In Rasharkin, officers sustained minor injuries when they were struck by stones and bricks by youths in the village.

Petrol bombs were also thrown. One man has been arrested.

There were disturbances during the return leg of the Twelfth parade in Derry.

There was minor trouble in the Butcher’s Gate area where one policeman sustained a slight injury.

Earlier, rival groups taunted each other as Orangemen and a small number of bands made their way through the Diamond area.

Both sides spat at each other and threw missiles. Police separated factions.

Officers remained in the area, and were attacked by nationalists throwing stones and bottles.

Police came under attack with missiles and paint during disturbances in Armagh following a security alert at Friary Road in which a minor explosion occurred.

Four people have been arrested for public order offences following a number of minor disturbances.

A small number of petrol bombs were thrown. At least two cars were also stolen and set alight on Friary Road.</p

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