Police, Rioters Resume Clashes in N. Ireland

Police firing plastic bullets battled stone-throwing rioters in Northern Ireland on Saturday after rival parades ended a few days of uneasy calm and set off more sectarian violence in the British-ruled province.

About 200 rioters fought running street battles with police in the town of Omagh for three hours early Saturday, smashing property and setting fire to buildings.

Police said there were several arrests, and some people were taken to the hospital. A police spokesman said one officer suffered a head wound, but it was not believed to be serious.

Catholics who want a united Ireland and Protestants who want the province to stay British held rival parades in the town west of Belfast on Friday night, and the rioting began shortly after midnight.

Meanwhile, police in England made several arrests this week, seizing documents and enough equipment to make 36 bombs in what they said was part of their crackdown on the Irish Republican Army.

After the arrests, eight men--one of whom was identified in news reports as former U.S. Marine John Patrick Crawley, 39, of New York--were charged in a closely guarded London court Saturday with conspiracy to cause explosions.

The court ordered all eight to be held until another hearing Friday.

The incident in Omagh was the first serious clash since last week’s widespread street violence in Belfast and Londonderry. Those disturbances--the worst since new efforts for peace were launched two years ago--have claimed two lives.