Republican News · Thursday 4 July 2002

Adams calls for end to 'interface violence'

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams has called for an end to the ongoing street disturbances that have become a feature of life for people living on interfaces throughout Belfast.

Speaking at the launch of the 15th West Belfast Féile programme on Tuesday, Adams said: "The street disturbances are not in the interests of nationalists and republicans who want to see the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement."

He went on to stress that this violence was not in the interests of the people, in beleaguered interface areas who are suffering the brunt of the violence.

The Sinn Féin leader also disparaged the view within unionist circles that there existed a republican strategy of street agitation. "There is not," he affirmed.

He argued that unionists were being "wound up" by the anti-Agreement elements and urged that, "despite the provocations and the real threat to nationalist communities, nationalists should not do or say anything that plays into the hands of the anti-Agreement agenda".

Adams called on "all sections of our people to stand up against sectarianism".