Road blocked amid new flags protest (From Andover Advertiser)
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Road blocked amid new flags protest
8:24pm Wednesday 2nd January 2013 in National News © Press Association 2013
Loyalists across Northern Ireland have been protesting since councillors in Belfast voted to limit the number of days they fly the Union flag
Up to 300 loyalists have blocked roads in Carrickfergus as part of a protest over flags, police have said.
The crowd, some of whom used scarves to hide their identity, gathered at a roundabout between Albert Road and Belfast Road.
The demonstration, against a decision to restrict the flying of the Union flag over Belfast City Hall, ended peacefully after about an hour.
Traffic was disrupted for a time but the area has since returned to normal.
In east Belfast, bus services were disrupted because of a flag protest at Woodstock Link.
There were no reports of any disorder.
Loyalists across Northern Ireland have been protesting since councillors in Belfast voted on December 3 to limit the number of days they fly the Union flag. Violence has erupted at some of the pickets.
A number of politicians, including East Belfast MP Naomi Long from the cross-community Alliance Party, were issued with death threats.
There are plans for another demonstration outside Belfast City Hall this Saturday and organisers say they may picket Stormont later this month.
