Search for Belfast school peace

BELFAST, Northern Ireland -- Efforts are to continue over the weekend to end the protest outside a Belfast Catholic girls school that has sent shockwaves around the world.

But a meeting between UK Northern Ireland Secretary Dr John Reid and loyalist community leaders in Ardoyne, north Belfast has been postponed until Monday.

A statement issued by the Concerned Residents of Upper Ardoyne said people were too "mentally, physically and emotionally exhausted" to take part.

VIDEO Elaine Burns talks with CNN's Matthew Chance about how the bombing outside a Belfast school impacts her two daughters (September 6) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   EXTRA INFORMATION • In pictures: Running the gauntlet of hate   • Q & A: Belfast school violence     AUDIO CNN's Matthew Chance: Protesters turned their backs on parents and children 1.05MB / 50 sec WAV sound

Since the protest began stones and bottles have been hurled at Catholics taking their children to school through a security line of police and army units. On one occasion a blast bomb was thrown injuring a police officer.

Television pictures of the protests have been shown around the world sparking fierce criticism and attracting bad publicity to the Protestant case.

Pope John Paul II urged both sides in the sectarian divide to show "goodwill."

Protestant protesters outside Holy Cross Catholic Girls Primary School want pupils -- as young as four -- to take a different route to school that does not involve walking past their houses.

They say their homes are attacked by Catholics and that the Irish Republican Army are using the children to move into Protestant areas.

Catholic parents argue the alternative route is longer, is not suitable for parents who take younger children in push chairs on the school run and because it is their democratic right walk along the main road.

So far, there has been no direct dialogue between the two sides -- a move that a joint statement from Reid and the Northern Ireland assembly's leadership says is necessary to avoid future clashes.

The statement added: "For an effective mechanism to be created, there needs to be careful preparation to ensure that there is confidence across the community.

"We have therefore asked senior officials to consult immediately with local interests, drawing on relevant experience and expertise."