You remember this:-
George Mitchell's patient diplomacy shepherded Northern Ireland to peace. Now for the Middle East ...
Barack Obama's envoy will bring the same quiet determination to negotiations on the Israeli-Arab front that he did as Bill Clinton's intermediary in the Troubles
Try the latest Ireland news:
Northern Ireland violence erupts after parades
BELFAST, Northern Ireland - Police battled Irish nationalists for control of a Belfast road yesterday as a day dominated by peaceful Protestant parades across Northern Ireland turned violent when night fell.
Riot police in helmets and body armor dragged kicking, flailing protesters from the pavement of Crumlin Road even as other protesters packed into side streets pelted police with rocks, bricks and Molotov cocktails.
and
55 officers injured in N. Ireland clashes
(CNN) -- Fifty-five police officers were injured in clashes that marked a controversial holiday march in Northern Ireland, authorities said Tuesday.
One officer, a female, remained hospitalized in stable condition, police said in a statement. Police said Monday she had been struck in the head by an object thrown at her.
Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Matt Baggott condemned the disorder in the Ardoyne area of Belfast, the statement said.
"A number of my colleagues have been injured and I wish them a speedy recovery," he said. "It places a great burden on my colleagues who exercised superb restraint, superb professionalism and superb courage. Last night we had people working for 24, 36, 48 hours and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them all."
The violence began on the eve of July 12, known as "The Twelfth" by Protestants who march to celebrate the victory of England's King William III over his ousted Catholic predecessor James II in 1689. The holiday has previously been marred by violence, and has been a source of tension between Catholics and Protestants.
More than 100 riot police removed Catholic protesters from a road in north Belfast to allow the march to take place, said journalist Peter Taggart. Rioters pelted police with Molotov cocktails and other explosives, and officers fired baton rounds and used water cannons in attempts to break up the crowds, police said. Several vehicles were carjacked and set ablaze, police said.
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Children behind worst riots in Northern Ireland, says police chief
More than 80 police officers have been injured in clashes with young rioters in one of the worst outbreaks of street violence in Northern Ireland in the last decade, the police said on Tuesday.
“We are going through difficult times,” police chief Matt Baggott said in Belfast. The men and women of the police force had been faced with “attempted murder” during the riots on Monday and Tuesday.
The protests, which spread from Belfast to other parts of the British province, were linked to the traditional July 12 parades of the Protestant Orange Order.
Police said they suspected that dissidents from pro—Irish Catholic groups were behind fermenting the street violence.
Mr. Bagott said the chief objective of his force during the riots, which went on through the night, had been to “protect life.” Police took the unusual step on Tuesday of releasing footage shot from a police helicopter which showed youngsters showering police with missiles and petrol bombs, overturning police vehicles and swinging large wooden sticks at riot shields.
Police fired 70 baton rounds and used water cannon during the riots in Belfast, Londonderry and Lurgan, he said. A female officer attacked was still in hospital after being hit on the head with masonry during the riots in north Belfast.
So, that's the best George Mitchell did for Ireland?
And he wants us to follow his lead?
Mitchell Returning; More Talk on Not Talking
...U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell is expected back in the region this week, and senior PA negotiator Saeb Erekat confirmed that U.S. President Barack Obama has personally asked PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to agree to direct talks with Israel for a new Arab country within Israel.
and
US envoy Mitchell to return to Mideast in talks push
WASHINGTON — The United States said Monday that envoy George Mitchell will return to the Middle East this week in hopes of helping start long-dormant direct talks between Israelis and Palestinians.
"He'll be in the region in a couple of days," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters.
"We want to get them into direct negotiations as quickly as possible," he said. "Until we get in direct negotiations, there's little prospect of reaching a just settlement for everyone concerned."
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