(12 Sep 1998) English/Nat
The British Army has held the last of its daily patrols on the streets of Belfast, Northern Ireland's capital.
Almost thirty years after the decision to deploy British troops at the beginning of the troubles, the Army is being withdrawn from Belfast as part of the Northern Ireland Peace process.
The symbolic last patrol signals hope that an end may be in sight to the guerrilla violence that has plagued the Northern Ireland capital for decades.
However military patrols will continue in other parts of the province.
Hopes for lasting peace have been a long time coming for the people of Northern Ireland.
On Saturday another small step towards an end to the troubles was made as the daily patrols of the streets of Belfast by the British army finally came to an end.
This symbolic last patrol is being carried out by A Company of the Ist Battalion the
Staffordshire Regiment who are half way through a six month tour of duty.
The move has been made possible by a new found confidence amongst peace negotiators that guerrilla violence is going to cease.
Army patrols in Protestant and Catholic strongholds of Belfast became a regular feature of life in this bustling city.
There were mixed reactions to the news.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Well, I suppose it signifies really that the end of whatever has happened, hopefully, for the past 25 or so years. You can see a difference, you know, I mean, if you don't see the troops, you know something is different, more normal I suppose."
SUPER CAPTION: Voxpop
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Well it means you haven't got foreigners in your country, patrolling the streets with guns in their hands. You know? And it is probably better for them as they probably are glad too that they are not walking round the streets of Belfast waiting for someone to shoot them."
SUPER CAPTION: Voxpop
It is not the first time that the troops have been withdrawn.
It happened in 1994 following a ceasefire by the mainstream Irish Republican Army (I-R-A) and its Protestant guerrilla rivals.
However, following a wave of killings this year, the streets once again resounded to the sound of marching feet.
Now, all but one of the array of pro-British and republican armed groups which have waged war for thirty years, have declared a ceasefire.
The only group not to support the peace agreement is the small Continuity I-R-A which is made up of hardline defectors from the mainstream I-R-A.
The withdrawal comes a day after the first guerrilla prisoners were released from jail under the terms agreed in the 'Good Friday' peace accord signed in April.
The accord resulted in a power-sharing assembly with limited powers to govern Northern Ireland.
As the doors closed on the last tour of duty for the British army in Belfast, many hope that they will never have to be re-opened.
The army will continue its patrols in other areas of Northern Ireland for the time being.
It is expected that a reduction in army numbers in Northern Ireland will follow quickly, although the army say no decision has yet been taken.
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