Hillary Clinton has condemned the recent outbreaks of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland.

During a visit to Belfast the US Secretary of State urged all parties to confront the issue peacefully.

She is on her 8th visit to Northern Ireland following on from her attendance at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) conference in Dublin yesterday.

She is meeting First and Deputy First Ministers of Northern Ireland at Stormont.

Later she will attend a lunch at Titanic Belfast in the docklands area of the city.

Protests over flag flying

She is there to meet with Northern Ireland officials and discuss the peace process, the trilateral U.S.-Ireland Research and Development Partnership and economic opportunities for Northern Ireland. 

She will attend an event hosted by The Ireland Funds -- a global fundraising network supporting programs of peace and reconciliation, arts and culture, education, and community development in the North and the Republic.

There have been angry protests this week over the decision to stop flying the Union Jack flag at Belfast City Hall every day.

Speaking alongside the First and Deputy First Minister Mrs Clinton called for an end to the trouble.

While Mrs. Clinton also says her first visit to Belfast 17 years ago this month to turn on the Christmas tree lights is still fresh in her memory.