First Minister Peter Robinson meets UVF leaders
The BBC understands that First Minister Peter Robinson has met UVF leaders in east Belfast as part of efforts to maintain calm in the area.
Police have said the paramilitary group orchestrated violence at the Short Strand interface on Monday and Tuesday.
It has been described as the worst trouble in the area in 10 years.
Wednesday night was quieter after a series of meetings involving both nationalist and loyalist leaders took place earlier in the day.
Mr Robinson had already asked a senior NI government official to work with both communities.
The DUP has not commented on Mr Robinson’s own involvement in talks, refusing even to confirm that the meeting took place.
BBC NI Home Affairs correspondent Vincent Kearney said he understood the meeting took place shortly after 1530 BST.
It was originally supposed to take place in east Belfast but was moved to Stormont Castle for security reasons.
Our correspondent added that Mr Robinson had condemned the violence on Wednesday and also emphasised how he would do anything he could to intervene
“Peter Robinson said he would do anything he could to intervene and to help,” our correspondent added.
“I think some on the loyalist side took that as a possible invitation that the door was open to the possibility of talks.”
It is understood DUP MLA for East Belfast Sammy Douglas is accompanying Mr Robinson at the talks.
It follows the discussions between loyalist and nationalist leaders on Wednesday which were brokered by an organisation called Belfast Conflict Resolution Consortium and held at a community centre in north Belfast.
