Sixteen police officers were injured today (January 12, 2013) in Belfast -- the capital of Northern Ireland -- after some 1,000 Protestants marched on Belfast City Hall to protest its decision to reduce displays of the British flag, according to the Rocket News website.
Masked, hooded Catholic youths tossed bottles, rocks, and other makeshift weapons at the protesters. A running street battle ensued with heavily armored police in the middle.
Protestant extremists have mounted illegal protests and road blockades for the past six weeks in protest at Catholic council members' decision to fly the British flag only 18 days annually, not year round.
Northern Ireland is controlled by England, which is primarily Protestant, while the autonomous nation of Ireland is comprised mostly of Catholics.
Although a peaceful atmosphere has prevailed -- for the most part -- in Northern Ireland during the past decade, several serious Catholic-Protestant conflicts have occurred periodically during the past 50 years in that British-controlled territory.
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