Senior members of the Ulster Volunteer Force have been blamed for orchestrating loyalist street violence in east Belfast.
Northern Ireland's Chief Constable Matt Baggott called for an end to demonstrations in the ongoing flag protests that have sometimes erupted in violence.
Loyalists pickets have been continuing since early December in response to a decision by Belfast City Council to limit the number of days the flag flies over City Hall.
So far 62 police officers have been injured and 96 people have been arrested.
The chief constable said he believed the UVF involvement was limited to east Belfast and there was no evidence of a collective endorsement of the organisation.
However, a leading Presbyterian Minister said he believes there is no organised paramilitary involvment in the violence.
Reverend Mervyn Gibson said those organising the riots are not from a traditionally paramilitary background.
Speaking on RTE's News at One, he said: "There's no paramilitary organisation of the riots.
"Young lads get together, text and arrange where to meet and gather their stones and their petrol bombs but I certainly haven't seen organised paramilitary involvement.
"I've seen people organising the riots but they wouldn't be from a traditional paramilitary background."
A number of politicial representatives have been subject to death threats during the unrest - the latest being SDLP Assembly member Patsy McGlone.
A parcel containing a sympathy card referring to Mr McGlone and a bullet was intercepted at a postal sorting office.
Overnight, disturbances linked to the flag issue continued in east Belfast for a fourth night in a row.
Police came under attack from loyalist demonstrators throwing fireworks and missiles.
Rev Gibson, who is County Grand Chaplain of the Orange Order in Belfast, was also involved in a meeting yesterday to discuss how the trouble might be brought to an end and said the situation was difficult to deal with.
He acknowledges that many young people are taking part in what is sometimes called recreational rioting.
In the past, when paramilitaries were orchestrating activities, it was possible to have it stopped, he added.
But in this case, it is more difficult because there is no clear line of responsibility for the trouble.
Rev Gibson also claimed there have been individual cases of police brutality and that in recent days the PSNI has taken a more robust approach to the trouble.
He said work has to continue to stop the rioting because it is damaging the community and people are fearful.
Belfast City Council is due to meet tonight, but the flying of the union flag controversy, which started the trouble a month ago, is not on the formal agenda.
Separately, a 38-year-old man is due to appear before Belfast Magistrates Court today, after being arrested on Saturday on suspicion of attempted murder after shots were reportedly fired at police.
He has been charged with possession of a firearm, riotous behaviour and failure to remove a disguise when asked to do so.
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