Police injured in Belfast clash

A Royal Ulster Constabulary officer stands guard near a burning car

BELFAST, Northern Ireland -- Thirty-three police officers were injured after explosive devices were thrown at their lines in a Belfast trouble spot, police have said.

Members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) came under fire as a protest of between 300 and 600 Protestants near the Ardoyne area turned violent after they were blocked from marching on Catholic homes.

More than 50 shots and two bursts of automatic fire were directed by the crowd during fierce clashes in the Crumlin Road area as well as six blast bombs, 125 petrol bombs, fireworks, and other missiles.

Officers were not hit by the bullets but suffered burns, damaged eardrums or minor cuts from the cruder weapons.

The Ardoyne is a traditionally tense area with Catholic and Protestant communities living side-by-side, but the atmosphere has worsened after violent and intimidatory protests outside Holy Cross Primary school.

Catholic parents and their children have come under sustained demonstrations from Protestant residents unhappy at the school-run cutting through their community.

The RUC believes Wednesday's attack was led by members of the Ulster Defence Association.

Police said they fired four live rounds and nine plastic bullets, the first time it has been forced to return fire since July.

Assistant chief constable Alan McQuillan told The Associated Press news agency: "Police again found themselves in the middle, attempting to prevent a concerted attack on the (Catholic) nationalist community.

"What was supposed to be a peaceful protest rapidly degenerated into vicious attacks on police."