Belfast's first Sinn Fein lord layor has issued a fresh appeal to unionists to nominate a deputy mayor to serve alongside him.

Alex Maskey said he hoped unionists would end their boycott of the deputy mayorship at the monthly meeting of city councillors on Tuesday night.

Mr Maskey made history when he was elected in June after getting 26 votes with the backing of the SDLP and the Alliance Party.

However, unionist councillors walked out of the City Hall and threatened to withhold co-operation with Sinn Fein by refusing to fill the deputy lord mayor's post.

There is an onus on political leadership of whatever persuasion to work towards healing divisions

Alex Maskey Lord Mayor

Speaking ahead of Tuesday's council meeting, Mr Maskey said it was "absurd" that unionists had not taken the position of deputy mayor.

"Despite the high profile opposition of unionist councillors to nominate a deputy mayor from within their own ranks, life on the council continues as before," he said.

"Unionist councillors work alongside those of Sinn Fein at committee level and indeed unionists have no difficulty in serving as deputy chairpersons on committees chaired by Sinn Fein members."

Since assuming office, Mr Maskey has pledged to work for equality for all.

He has taken part in a commemoration service for those killed during the First World War's Battle of the Somme.

However, his decision to have an Irish tricolour on display in his office alongside the Union flag angered some unionists.

Mr Maskey said: "As lord mayor, I have demonstrated a commitment to represent all of the people of the city in a fair and equal manner.

"However, with the issues dividing the people of this city never more apparent, there is an onus on political leadership of whatever persuasion to work towards healing divisions."

Nigel Dodds: Election was "divisive"

Mr Maskey said with the possibility of another loyalist paramilitary feud and the Ulster Unionist's threat to pull out of the Stormont executive next January, people in Belfast were facing "an uncertain future".

"At this crucial time, the city of Belfast is in very real need of shared civic leadership.

"It is my hope that the needs of the city and all of its residents are taken on board by unionist councillors and that these will no longer play second fiddle to the whims of a handful of anti-(Good Friday) Agreement councillors at City Hall."

Mr Maskey was twice interned without trial at the start of the Troubles.

He survived a number of loyalist murder attempts, including one in 1987 when he was rushed into intensive-care after being shot in the stomach.

After Mr Maskey was elected, the DUP's Nigel Dodds said it was the "most divisive thing to have happened in Belfast for many a long year".