Northern Ireland

Hundreds braced the cold Belfast weather on Shrove Tuesday to see bride-to-be Kate Middleton and Prince William.

This was the couple's first visit to Northern Ireland. Smiling for the crowds, they both tried their hands at tossing a pancake outside City Hall.

There had been no pre-visit announcement amid security fears. Armed police officers patrolled the surrounding streets.

Thousands held silent protests across Northern Ireland today to express anger at the resurgence of violence in the province.

Two soldiers and a policeman have died in the last week, with dissident republican groups claiming that they carried out the attacks.

Protesters gathered at 1pm at in Belfast, Lisburn, Newry, Downpatrick and Londonderry to denounce the killings.

A vigil for peace was also being held near the site of one of the killings in County Armagh.

Condemnation

The murder  of a policeman and two soldiers in Northern Ireland will not compromise peace efforts, a leading politician has said.

Dolores Kelly, the Social Democratic and Labour Party member for the North Policing Board, said the killers would not be allowed to tear down the province's political institutions nor destroy the police process.

A police officer was shot in the head last night as he responded to an emergency call in Craigavon, County Armagh. 

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A payment of £12,000 has been recommended for every family that lost members during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

Two former churchmen have recommended the government pay families regardless of whether the victims were civilians, members of security forces or terrorists.

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