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Union flag protests: Roads re-open in Belfast Union flag protests: 30 demonstrations in Belfast
(about 1 hour later)
All roads in Belfast which were blocked due to loyalist flag protests have now re-opened. More than 30 loyalist protests have taken place in Belfast and in several Northern Ireland towns over the flying of the union flag.
Bus services in and out of the city centre were suspended for a time but have now resumed. A number of roads were blocked and bus services were suspended for a time in the city on Friday evening.
The Knock dual carriageway, the Donegall Road at Broadway and the M2 off-slip at Fortwilliam have all been re-opened. Officers in riot gear used dogs to remove demonstrators from the Lower Newtownards Road in east Belfast.
Templemore Avenue and the Albertbridge Road are also open again. The majority of protests were relatively low key, and passed off without incident.
The Ormeau Road is now open after being closed in both directions at the bridge. Among the roads closed earlier on Friday were the Knock dual carriageway, the Donegall Road at Broadway and the M2 off-slip at Fortwilliam.
However, in the north of the city, the Crumlin Road at Cambrai Street remains closed. Templemore Avenue and the Albertbridge Road as well as the Ormeau Road were also affected.
Earlier, Translink said most of its buses were not leaving the city centre, the only exception being the service to the Falls Road.Earlier, Translink said most of its buses were not leaving the city centre, the only exception being the service to the Falls Road.
Elsewhere, Abbey Street in Bangor is blocked and in Carrickfergus the A2 Shore Road is impassable at the castle and the Rashee and Doagh Roads in Ballyclare are closed. Elsewhere, Abbey Street in Bangor was blocked and in Carrickfergus the A2 Shore Road was impassable at the castle.
A number of roads in Ballyclare were also closed.
The protesters are angry that the flag will not be flown every day at Belfast City Hall, a change the council voted through just over two weeks ago.The protesters are angry that the flag will not be flown every day at Belfast City Hall, a change the council voted through just over two weeks ago.
Businesses in Belfast have reported a drop in trade in the normally busy pre-Christmas period.Businesses in Belfast have reported a drop in trade in the normally busy pre-Christmas period.