BELFAST was taken over by thousands of republicans for their annual

anti-internment rally yesterday.

It was the first time during the past 24 years of violence that a

major republican march had been permitted in the city centre, and

required a huge security operation by police.

Officers in riot gear and scores of Land-Rovers lined the route as

thousands marched from west Belfast. Two smaller parades joined them

from the north and south of the city.

Roads were closed, traffic diverted and screens erected on the edge of

loyalist areas to prevent trouble.

Despite, or because of, the security presence, the rally passed

peacefully.

With bands and banners, the marchers had converged on the city hall

and hoisted an Irish Tricolour between lamp posts.

The Unionist-dominated council had refused them permission to enter

the grounds of the city hall, where a Union Flag fluttered on the roof.

No attempt was made to breach police lines.

Delegations from the American republican support group Noraid, the

British Troops Out movement, and Basque separatists, attended the rally,

which was addressed by Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams and

vice-president Martin McGuinness.