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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Belfast 'yes' for forces welcome | Belfast 'yes' for forces welcome |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Belfast City councillors have voted in favour of a reception for members of the armed forces serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. | Belfast City councillors have voted in favour of a reception for members of the armed forces serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. |
| Councillors voted 26 to 20 in favour of the event. | Councillors voted 26 to 20 in favour of the event. |
| It will coincide with a homecoming parade organised by the armed forces. The events are due to take place on 2 November. | It will coincide with a homecoming parade organised by the armed forces. The events are due to take place on 2 November. |
| Sinn Féin voted against, the Alliance Party, which holds the balance of power on the council, voted in favour. | Sinn Féin voted against, the Alliance Party, which holds the balance of power on the council, voted in favour. |
| The DUP's Nigel Dodds said: "I am delighted that Belfast City Council has agreed to civic hospitality on the occasion of the special event for our troops and servicemen who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. | The DUP's Nigel Dodds said: "I am delighted that Belfast City Council has agreed to civic hospitality on the occasion of the special event for our troops and servicemen who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. |
| "It's a great pity that nationalists couldn't bring themselves to support what is not a political event, but is something which is simply giving thanks and praise to God for their safe return." | "It's a great pity that nationalists couldn't bring themselves to support what is not a political event, but is something which is simply giving thanks and praise to God for their safe return." |
| Sinn Féin's Paul Maskey said the council "now endorses the war in Afghanistan and Iraq". | Sinn Féin's Paul Maskey said the council "now endorses the war in Afghanistan and Iraq". |
| "I think it's a very poor decision, and what this has also done is create a division within this city," he said. | "I think it's a very poor decision, and what this has also done is create a division within this city," he said. |
| "We in Belfast City Council have worked very hard over recent years to bring all communities together, and what this has done is send out all the wrong messages." | "We in Belfast City Council have worked very hard over recent years to bring all communities together, and what this has done is send out all the wrong messages." |
| Last month, a council committee voted to host a parade and civic reception for the personnel. | Last month, a council committee voted to host a parade and civic reception for the personnel. |
| However, that decision had to be ratified at Monday night's full council meeting. | However, that decision had to be ratified at Monday night's full council meeting. |