ALL loyalist and republican marches planned in Glasgow this weekend have been prohibited.

Glasgow City Council has taken the unprecedented step to block six public processions following advice from Police Scotland.

The decision was made after two weekends of violence, with large protests against marches across the city.

Processions had been organised for Saturday by Bridgeton Protestant Boys Flute Band, Pride of the North Flute Band, Republican Network for Unity and the Whiteinch Orange and Purple District, which was planning to march in two separate locations.

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Partick Orange and Purple District had arranged to march on Sunday.

The organisers can appeal the decisions made by the council.

A council spokesman said: "A meeting of the city’s Public Processions Committee has ordered the prohibition of six marches that had been due to take place this weekend.

"The council has always been clear that the law expects it to facilitate public processions; including those that some people oppose or find offensive.

"However, the right to march has to be balanced against the rights of people and communities across Glasgow.

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"Today, committee has acted to protect the interests of those communities - taking into account the threat to public safety and the likelihood of widespread disruption and disorder.

"Its decisions follow the recommendations made by the Chief Executive, having also considered expert evidence on behalf of the Chief Constable of Police Scotland.

"The city has already witnessed an unacceptable level of disruption and disorder associated with parades and counter-protests in recent weeks.

"It is clear, both from the intelligence gathered by police and the tone of comments made by supporters and protestors, that tensions are high and the situation threatens to deteriorate further.

"The council directly appeals to those who would have taken part in these marches, or who planned to mount protests against them, to comply with the orders made and not bring further disruption to city streets."

Last Saturday, a policeman was injured after he was hit by a pyrotechnic thrown by a protester, while 11 people were arrested as two marches through the streets of Glasgow descended into violence.

READ MORE: Former Lord Provost of Glasgow Michael Kelly calls for ban on city centre marches

Just over a week earlier, Police Scotland had to step in a deal with "significant disorder" at a march in Govan.

On Tuesday, Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said Scottish Government ministers would back Glasgow City Council in any efforts to limit the number of marches taking place on its streets.

"The events of the last two weekends have clearly demonstrated that sectarian violence is not a thing of the past," Mr Yousaf said.

"We all have a collective desire, a collective need and a collective interest to eradicate this kind of hatred from our streets. Frankly, the citizens of Glasgow that I speak to have just had enough.

"So when it comes to Glasgow City Council's desire to reduce the number of marches, I think that is a pretty decent place to start and they will get support from the Government in that endeavour.

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"The fact that we have to think about legislating to stop these individuals from committing that disorder is a pretty depressing state.

"But where the council feel there is a need for further legislative options to be explored I have given them an undertaking to do that."