(13 Jul 1996) English/Nat
A Catholic man has died in Londonderry during the worst night of violence since unrest broke out almost a week ago, leaving the peace process in tatters.
Local residents say he was hit by an armoured police truck on Saturday night, as security forces battled against petrol bombs and around two thousand rioters who rampaged out of control.
Strong criticism from the Irish government over British handling of the Protestant marches in Northern Ireland over the last week, has pushed relations to their lowest point in years.
After a night of what security forces are calling "unprecedented violence", the Northern Irish peace process hangs in the balance.
People from a Catholic area ran riot through the Londonderry streets in protest over the decision to allow Protestants march through the area.
In the morning light the aftermath of the violence can be clearly seen.
Local sources say a Catholic man died of his wounds in hospital after being hit by an armoured police car in Londonderry, 70 miles (110 kilometres) from Belfast.
Police experts examined the site of the accident on Saturda morning in the search for more clues as to what actually happened.
It was the first fatality in a week of rioting sparked by Protestant demands to march through Catholic neighbourhoods in annual celebration of 17th century battle victories over Irish Catholics.
Eyewitnesses told APTV the man had been run over by an army vehicle.
SOUNDBITE:
"Well obviously when the British army and R-U-C (police) were moving forward they obviously knew that this gentleman was standing behind a corrugated iron or boarding, so they obviously knew somebody was there and whilst they moved forward, you know, they struck the old man down and unfortunately he is now dead."
SUPER CAPTION: Martin Finucane, Eye Witness
Police would not discuss details of the death or identify the man, who apparently died at this hospital, saying the matter was under investigation.
Police and troops fired some one-thousand plastic bullets during the disturbances in Londonderry
Around two thousand people rampaged through the streets, in Londonderry and over a thousand petrol bombs were thrown as security forces attempted to bring the mob under control.
One local said last night's incident had cast Northern Ireland back to the start of the current sectarian violence in 1969, when British troops first arrived in the province and Catholics were killed in civil rights marches.
SOUNDBITE:
"The bigger picture is how nationalists (Catholics) within the six counties (Northern Ireland) are being treated.The R-U-C individually have turned the clock back 27 years and they're treating nationalists now as they did in '69. The exact same bully boy technics as they did in '69."
SUPER CAPTION: Martin Fisher, Local Resident
Violence also hit the streets in Belfast, where rioters clashed with police causing mayhem and untold damage.
Buildings and cars were set alight and security forces attacked with petrol bombs, lumps of wood and any other weapons people could lay their hands on.
Police could not say how many injuries either side had sustained because there were so many.
Tension and sporadic trouble has been the hallmark of this years' Protestant Orange Order marches in many areas of the province.
The Catholic community was outraged when the R-U-C made an about-turn two days ago by allowing the Orangemen to parade through various Catholic areas. It followed five days of Protestant rioting.
And the Irish government has condemned the British over their handling of the situation.
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Негізгі бет NORTHERN IRELAND: VIOLENCE UPDATE
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