22 hurt in N.Irish protest

BELFAST, Northern Ireland -- At least 19 police officers and three soldiers were injured during violent protests at two army observation posts and a police station in Northern Ireland.

Trouble flared during a protest organised by the youth wing of the republican party, Sinn Fein, over what it said was the slow pace of Britain's military rundown from the British-ruled province.

Two of the police officers were seriously wounded with head injuries and were airlifted to hospital.

"At least 19 police officers have been injured following violent attacks by protesters at two... watchtowers and a Crossmaglen police station in South Armagh," a police spokesman said.

"At Creevekeeran watchtower, a crowd of over 100 attacked police officers with iron bars, bottles, fireworks and petrol bombs as they tried to prevent them from cutting a perimeter fence."

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Britain agreed to reduce its military presence in Northern Ireland after the IRA started decommissioning weapons last month under the 1998 Good Friday agreement aimed at ending decades of violence.

In October a number of observation posts were dismantled as the British government moved quickly to deliver a positive response to the IRA initiative.

Work began immediately on the demolition of two mountaintop lookout posts in Camlough in the republican heartland of south Armagh.

The British government said that other aspects of the Good Friday Agreement, such as reforming the region's largely Protestant police force, would follow.

For decades the scaffolding watchtowers, bristling with high tech cameras, antennae and razor wire, served as the Army's eyes and ears.

While Catholics demanded the dismantling of the towers, for Protestants they served as a comforting reminder of Britain's continuing support and protection.

Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid had pledged to introduce a progressive rolling programme of security normalisation, reducing troop levels and military installations as the paramilitary threat diminished.