(8 Jul 1997) English/Nat
There was more violence on the streets of Northern Ireland Monday night as the protestant marching season went on.
The Sinn Fein chief negotiator, Martin McGuinness, was hit on the head during disturbances in the town of Bellaghy as loyalist bands prepared to march through the streets.
McGuinness didn't appear seriously hurt.
More than 100 people -civilians and soldiers- have been injured since Sunday.
Six of them are seriously ill.
Sinn Fein's chief negotiator Martin McGuinness appealed for calm as police and troops pulled back after Monday's parade in Bellaghy had passed off peacefully.
He said this kind of troubles only benefit the British government and the RUC.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Listen, listen. I want you all to listen very carefully. This is exactly what these people are looking for. I am appealing to every single one of you to listen to what I have to say. Do not allow yourself to be provoqued by the RUC, by the British army. The world is seeing what is happening in Bellaghy. The world has seen what happened on the Garvaghy road. And we have to keep the focus of attention on what the British government, the RUC, and the Orange order have done. If this here tonight ends in a riot, they will have won, that's a reality, lets not give them that."
SUPER CAPTION: Martin McGuinness, Sinn Fein chief negotiator
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I just basically asked people to be calm, peaceful and dignified. And if I can do that after being hit on the head by a RUC baton, then I think people should listen very carefully to that message. I'm prepared to be calm, I'm prepared to be peaceful and I'm prepared to be dignified and want to do the same."
SUPER CAPTION: Martin McGuinness, Sinn Fein chief negotiator
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