Loyalists want Sinn Féin to accept their community's share of the blame for sectarian clashes in Belfast as efforts continue to end the violence along the city's peaceline, it was claimed today.
After a meeting with Northern Ireland Office minister Mr Des Browne at Stormont on ways to end the interface violence, Mr John White of the Ulster Political Research Group noted all communities said they wanted to stop the violence.
However Mr White, whose group provides political analysis to the loyalist paramilitary Ulster Defence Association, insisted republicans needed to accept their role in the disturbances.
"Today's meeting with Mr Browne was an opportunity for us to go into some details about the issues in the interface areas and about sectarianism," he said.
"I think it is clear we are reaching an understanding that everyone wants this violence to stop, but why doesn't it stop? "We still have a blame game every time incidents occur and there are no structures in place for establishing what went on and how we move on.
"Hopefully, we are moving towards that. I think there is a clear determination on behalf of loyalists to end this violence, but to move on, we need reciprocation for republicans. We need them to say the violence on their part will end and to accept some of the blame."
Mr White was commenting after more violence in north and east Belfast. Rival nationalist and loyalist gangs confronted each other in the flashpoint areas of Ardoyne in the north of the city and Short Strand in the east.
Gunshots were reported in north Belfast while police said a firework was thrown by loyalists and exploded on a house in the nationalist Clandeboye Gardens area of Short Strand.
Republicans disputed this, claiming it was a pipe bomb.
Mr White welcomed recent dialogue with Belfast's Sinn Féin Lord Mayor Alex Maskey, insisting the UPRG wished to engage with all political parties in the search for a solution.
PA