Ceasefire in Northern Ireland - Irish Republican Army

Starting this month, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) has declared a ceasefire in Northern Ireland. The IRA has been fighting since 1969 against British rule there. The IRA and its supporters, mainly from the 43 percent of Northern Ireland's population that is Catholic, want to join Northern Ireland to the Republican of Ireland to the south. (See map on p.4.) Opposed to the IRA are most of Northern Ireland's Protestants, who form 57 percent of the population. A total of 3,168 people have died in the 25-year-long struggle. Great Britain and the IRA are now expected to discuss the political future of Northern Ireland--if the ceasefire holds.

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