Unionists to meet over flag row

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 10 Januari 2013 | 15.36

10 January 2013 Last updated at 01:44 ET

The Unionist Forum will hold its first meeting later.

DUP leader Peter Robinson and Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt set up the forum in a bid to address the ongoing flag protests.

The vote by Belfast City Council on 3 December to fly it only on 18 designated days sparked a campaign of protests, some of them violent.

The row has pointed up a gap between some in the loyalist grassroots and the leaders of unionism.

Mr Robinson and Mr Nesbitt said the forum would seek to engage with the entire unionist community and address its concerns.

They and the other unionist parties represented at Stormont will attend Thursday's meeting although the TUV leader Jim Allister said he had another commitment and would be sending representatives.

The loyalist parties are also expected to be there, along with the loyal orders. The agenda will include flags, parades and cultural identity.

But one of the groups behind the protests, the Ulster People's Forum, said it had not been invited and would not be involved even if it had been invited.

Flag protests took place in Belfast and Londonderry on Wednesday evening, but there were no reports of any trouble.

The Northern Ireland secretary of state has said riots linked to the protests were causing "significant damage" to the economy.

Theresa Villiers said the "negative images" were "threatening jobs".

The cost of policing the protests is believed to be more than £7m.


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