New Belfast Lord Mayor Martin Morgan vowed today to do all he could to calm sectarian tensions and promote better community relations in the city.
As a man was treated in hospital for a serious head injury following an assault in the flashpoint area of Ardoyne and Glenbryn, the city's third-evernationalist mayor offered to work with community leaders to prevent such violence.
"All attacks of this nature should be unreservedly condemned. People have the right to go about their business without fear of attack," the SDLP mayor said.
"A lot of good community relations work has been carried out in recent times in north Belfast. However community leaders and all those with influence mustexert that influence to prevent incidents such as these taking place.
"The SDLP will have an open door policy as Mayor and will do all we can toprovide leadership to promote good community relations within Belfast."
The assault took place close to the junction of the nationalist Ardoyne shops and loyalist Twaddell Avenue areas just before 10 p.m. last night. Police said there had been reports of stone throwing in the area throughout the evening.
There were also reports an hour later of two petrol bombs being thrown from the loyalist Glenbryn Park side of the peaceline behind houses in nationalist Alliance Avenue.
Tensions were high in the district after a minibus with children from the Catholic Holy Cross school was stoned yesterday, smashing some windows.
PA