City elects first Sinn Fein mayor

Belfast has elected the first Sinn Fein lord mayor in its long and troubled history.

The choice by councillors of Alex Maskey, a senior member of Sinn Fein, reflects the fact that Belfast has become an increasingly nationalist city with a Catholic majority. Sinn Fein is the largest party on the council.

The middle-of-the-road Alliance party's three members voted for Mr Maskey.He described his election as "a landmark event for the principles of fair play, democracy and equality'' and said he viewed it as another step forward for the peace process.

Although there was sustained applause in the chamber and public galleries after his election, Unionist councillors walked out, some of them shouting: "You're not wanted in this city.''

The Democratic Unionist Party councillor Sammy Wilson described him as "the representative of fascist IRA-Sinn Fein", accusing him of being identified with an organisation "that has caused murder and mayhem in this city''.

One Unionist member said it was "a night of shame and a night of sadness''.

Mr Maskey was a senior member of the Sinn Fein team that helped to negotiate the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, and is a familiar figure from television appearances. He has recently been a spokesman on policing issues.

He has had many brushes with the law, facing charges such as obstruction, but has not been convicted of any serious offence. He was twice interned in the 1970s for IRA activities. He has been a particular hate-figure for loyalist paramilitary groups. In 1986 he was seriously injured in the stomach by a man with a sawn-off shotgun. In 1993 loyalist gunmen again burst into his home and although he eluded them a friend who was in the house was shot dead.

The Maskey mayoralty seems likely to be an eventful year, given the controversy that surrounded his election. There are many loyalist areas of Belfast that will probably be unsafe for him to visit.

The outgoing lord mayor, the Unionist Jim Rodgers, said in his departure speech: "Despite all the violence, Belfast is still a wonderful place.''