Work began today to raise the height of the ‘peace wall’ separating nationalist and loyalist areas in a troubled area.
British army engineers were hoping to finish work on two sections of the interface in east Belfast's Short Strand by nightfall, but said it would be several weeks before the task was fully completed.
The wall is up to four metres high and is being increased by up to three and a half metres more in a bid to prevent missiles such as blast bombs and petrol bombs being thrown over.
The Northern Ireland Secretary, Dr John Reid, said today there had been a very worrying involvement and orchestration of recent violence by paramilitaries on all sides. He expressed concern at the " general lack of confidence" in the peace process in the province.
Dr Reid said: There is obviously still activity, orchestration of violence by paramilitaries on all sides, and that is very worrying."
Sinn Fein President Mr Gerry Adams is due to meet British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair in Downing Street tomorrow to discuss the latest outbreak of violence.
Mr Adams - who will be accompanied by party colleague and the North’s Education minister Mr Martin McGuinness - is expected to be told by Mr Blair that his government has clear evidence of IRA involvement in recent shootings and that it must stop immediately.
Extra pressure is likely to be put on Sinn Fein when US President George Bush's special envoy to the North visits the province this week. Mr Richard Haas is accompanying a group of American policing experts on a two day visit.
Meanwhile east Belfast remained calm today but early morning trouble broke out in south Belfast when rival factions clashed and attacked police.
PA