Nationalists and Unionists on Belfast City Council clashed this week over plans to hold a civic homecoming reception for British Army troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

In November a homecoming parade is due to be held for members of the armed forces returning from the Middle East.

Unionists had proposed that Belfast City Council should hold a civic reception on the same day to honor the troops.

However, Nationalists opposed the move arguing that it was wrong to glorify an "unjust war."

Opposing a civic reception for the British soldiers, Sinn Fein councilor Paul Maskey said, "The idea that there should be a civic reception for those taking part in a war which is internationally accepted to be entirely unjust is entirely wrong.

"This proposal has been put forward for no other reason than to create division within the city of Belfast.

"I think it sends out the entirely wrong message of what Belfast is supposed to be about."

Accusing Sinn Fein of using the homecoming parade as a "mantle of convenience for people who hate British soldiers," DUP councilor Ian Crozier said, "I'm sorry to say there is a yawning chasm in this council on particular issues which are important to the Unionist community.

"Mutual respect can not be found here, which is something which causes me great sadness."

Rejecting DUP claims that it was being "led by the nose'' by Sinn Fein, SDLP councilor Tim Attwood said, "I think Unionists have been genuine in their calls for this civic reception and that should be respected.

"But it should also be equally respected that there are those, including the SDLP, who are opposed to this war. The SDLP has always been a party of non-violence since its inception.

"We recognize that there have been 176 British troops among the 4,400 allied forces killed. But there have also been 655,000 Iraqi civilians killed and that should be remembered."

The civic reception was eventually given the green light after Alliance councilors, who hold the balance of power in City Hall, voted to support the event.