Politicians in Northern Ireland have not given up on building a shared future, Stormont's First Minister has vowed.

Peter Robinson said the only way to end violence was through the political process.

Almost 100 police officers have been injured during weeks of loyalist protest over the Union flag. A peace rally was held outside Belfast City Hall yesterday.

Mr Robinson said: "We took some difficult decisions to build a shared society in Northern Ireland. It is important to tell the wider community we are not giving up on that."

Mr Robinson and Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness are due to meet with the British and Irish governments this week. The First Minister added: "We are determined we build the kind of society where everybody can have a peaceful existence."

On Saturday some of east Belfast's worst rioting broke out since Belfast City Council decided to restrict the flying of the flag from the City Hall. Sectarian clashes between loyalists and republicans living in Short Strand were broken up by police, who braved bricks, fireworks and other missiles thrown from the angry crowd. They responded with water cannon and baton rounds.