Violence has broken out after a controversial Orange Order parade passed through a nationalist area of Belfast.

Bottles and stones were thrown at police by nationalists after the Orange parade made its way through west Belfast to Whiterock Orange Hall on Saturday.

A crowd of about 300 nationalists confronted the police as the marchers passed through the junction of Ainsworth Avenue and March Street and the junction of Springfield Parade and Springfield Road.

Some of the violence was at close quarters

Police used water cannon for the first time this year in an attempt to control the situation. Six officers suffered minor injuries in the clashes.

Nationalist residents were angry that no route restrictions were placed on the parade.

Sean Paul O'Hare, of Springfield Residents' Action Group, said: "I think that these disturbances were an indication of just how angry people in the community are.

"They were angry at this decision to allow the march through with no route restriction and feel the Parades Commission have put the community into a corner.

"We went to them with positive proposals and those were rejected."

Decision

In its determination, the Northern Ireland Parades Commission did not impose any route restrictions on the parade.

However, it said no music must be played between the junction of Ainsworth Avenue and March Street and the junction of Springfield Parade and Springfield Road.

The commission said it was conscious of its previous determinations in connection with the parade, but considering all relevant factors, felt it was "the most appropriate for this particular parade at this particular time".

It said the parade should begin and disperse promptly with only notified bands taking part.

Parades Commission Chairman Tony Holland

The police said they had received assurances that the nationalist protest would be marshalled.

But they said they were told there would be no marshals 30 minutes before the march was due to pass.

Assistant Chief Constable for Belfast Alan McQuillan said: "Today our objective was to police this parade in line with the Parades Commission's determination, while respecting the rights of both sides.

"We deeply regret the decision of the organisers of the nationalist protest to withdraw marshalling, an action which directly led to the disgraceful scenes on the Springfield Road."

The Northern Ireland Parades Commission was set up in 1997 to make decisions on whether controversial parades should be restricted.