Up to 300 loyalists have blocked roads in Carrickfergus as part of a protest over flags, police have said. The crowd, some of whom used scarves to hide their identity, gathered at a roundabout between Albert Road and Belfast Road. The demonstration, against a decision to restrict the flying of the Union flag over Belfast City Hall, ended peacefully after about an hour. Traffic was disrupted for a time but the area has since returned to normal. In east Belfast, bus services were disrupted because of a flag protest at Woodstock Link. There were no reports of any disorder. Loyalists across Northern Ireland have been protesting since councillors in Belfast voted on December 3 to limit the number of days they fly the Union flag. Violence has erupted at some of the pickets. A number of politicians, including East Belfast MP Naomi Long from the cross-community Alliance Party, were issued with death threats. There are plans for another demonstration outside Belfast City Hall this Saturday and organisers say they may picket Stormont later this month. | 
