They were pelted with missiles, including bricks, fireworks, bottles, nuts and bolts in the Short Strand area on Saturday night.

Police said they were attacked while trying to keep hostile crowds apart close to the area of Clandeboye Gardens and Cluan Place.

Now there has been four people from the Short Strand injured, two with broken arms, one requiring stitiches to a head wound and one with severe bruising to his whole body

Stephen Long Sinn Fein

A 7ft length of wood studded with nails was also recovered close to the Clandeboye Gardens area.

Sinn Fein representative Stephen Long accused the police of using heavy-handed tactics.

"There was no confrontation between either community," he said.

"The PSNI came into Clandeboye Drive and started attacking young people in that area under the pretext that they were clearing away rubble and removing rubble from the area.

"There have been four people from the Short Strand injured - two with broken arms, one requiring stitiches to a head wound and one with severe bruising to his whole body."

Response

However, Ulster Unionist Michael Copeland said the police had gone into Clandeboye Gardens to stop nationalists before there was an escalation of trouble.

"There was no response from residents in Cluan Place despite a lot of provocation. All these people want is the law to be applied evenly and fairly," he said.

"The reason the police took action was to stop nationalists trying to cause trouble because if they did not, there may eventually have been a response from Cluan Place."

Several individuals have already been subject to legal proceedings but the heart of the solution lies within the communities themselves

Brian McCargo PSNI

Deputy Assistant Chief Constable for Belfast, Brian McCargo, rejected allegations that police had taken a partisan approach to the disturbances.

"Violence from whatever quarter is totally unacceptable and police will take action against those responsible," he said.

"This running sore of public disorder is causing intolerable suffering on both communities.

"Police will do their best to protect those in danger and we will bring those responsible for violence before the courts.

"Several individuals have already been subject to legal proceedings but the heart of the solution lies within the communities themselves."

Last week, Economy Minister Reg Empey said he was seeking a meeting with the Northern Ireland security minister over violence in the area.

Sir Reg also said he wanted a review of police tactics in the Short Strand area and for security forces to maintain a 24 hour presence in the area, similar to that in nearby Cluan Place.

Last Thursday, 13 officers were injured during disturbances and six plastic baton rounds were fired.