Hillary Clinton Condemns Flag Violence During Irish Visit

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has condemned the outbreak of violence in Belfast sparked by a city council vote restricting the flying of the Union Jack flag over City Hall.

In recognition of the divided nature of Northern Irish society, on most public buildings Britain's Union Flag is only flown on about 17 days of the year.

However, it flew permanently on Belfast City Hall.

The city council, where the nationalist Sinn Fein and SDLP, have a majority proposed to remove the flag.

The non-sectarian Alliance Party proposed a compromise which allows the flag to be flown on the same 17 days that it does at, for example, Stormont.

But the vote sparked violent protests form loyalist demonstrators that continued throughout the week.

Several police officers were injured in the riots, and there were death threats for politicians, including MP Naomi Long of the Alliance Party.

"I know Naomi and obviously I am very distressed," Mrs Clinton said. "It's absolutely unacceptable. However, the violence is also a reminder that although much progress has been made, the hard work of reconciliation [is not over] ... There will always be disagreements, people have strong feelings ... but the only path forward is a peaceful, democratic one."

Mrs Clinton, who visited Dublin last week to take part in a meeting of the OSCE, visited Belfast to attend an Ireland Funds event.

She said the riots showed that the work of the peace process is not complete.

"What we have to do is get out of the ballrooms, out of Stormont and into the communities where people live, where they do not have that lasting hope of optimism," she said.

During her visit to Dublin, Mrs Clinton paid a courtesy call to President Michael D Higgins at Aras an Uachtarain and delivered a keynote speech on human rights at Dublin City University.

After talks with Taoiseach Enda Kenny, the pair gave a join press conference, where on reporter asked her what her future plans were after she steps down from her current job next month.

"I'm looking forward to returning to living a life that enjoys a lot of simple pleasures and gives me time with family and friends," she said with a smile.

Asked to comment on rumours that husband Bill might replace Dan Rooney as Irish ambassador she said,

"I cannot comment on what President Obama might do," she said.

"I would think my husband would be here many times in the future doing the work he's been doing without having to have the title of ambassador."

Mrs Clinton also urged Irish people to see past the current economic problems and stay positive.

"The view from the United States is the resilience, the hard work, the determination of the Irish people, getting up every day and getting the job done, coming at it with a can-do spirit, and an unwavering resolve to meet what lies ahead," she declared.