Peter Robinson says rioters 'the enemies of democracy'

14 January 2013 Last updated at 10:02 ET Help

Northern Ireland's First minister Peter Robinson has again appealed for violence over street protests to end.

He said that the decision to limit the number of days it could be flown had "unsettled the status quo" but that could not justify the violence of recent weeks.

Mr Robinson said that damage was being caused to Northern Ireland's reputation abroad and was damaging businesses in the city.

"You do not respect a union flag if you use it as a weapon to attack someone," he said.

He added that those involved in violence were the enemies of democracy.

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness told the Stormont Assembly the ongoing disorder must end and everyone needed to stand together.

He said this was a challenge to the power-sharing institutions by people who represented no one but themselves.

He added that some of those involved were associated with the BNP and were to "some degree sectarian bigots".

He said he did not believe those involved in these disturbances represented the unionist people.

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