Belfast parade passes off peacefully

London: Northern Ireland police say a homecoming parade for British army soldiers passed without major incident despite fears of conflict with Irish Catholic protesters.

Some feared the parade on Sunday to honour Northern Ireland members of the British armed forces returning from Iraq and Afghanistan would stir up sectarian tensions.

Loyalists and republicans along the route in Belfast were separated by riot police following one skirmish. But police say the parade of soldiers was unaffected.

The army on Friday cancelled plans for helicopters to fly overhead and said no marchers would carry weapons.

The British army hasn't paraded in Belfast since 1970, when the outlawed Irish Republican Army began a campaign of violence that attempted to force Northern Ireland out of the United Kingdom.