For decades, violence has raged between Protestants and Roman Catholics in Northern Ireland. The Irish Republican Army (IRA), which many Catholics support, has fought against the Protestant majority and against the British, who have ruled the area for almost 500 years.
Last week, the IRA announced it would begin to destroy its weapons, signaling a major breakthrough in the quest for a lasting peace. Gerry Adams, leader of the pro-IRA Sinn Fein party, called the move "a liberating leap forward."
The IRA said its aim was to "save the peace process." Just three years ago, hopes for peace were high in the troubled region. Protestants and Catholics agreed to govern the country together. But in recent months, the power-sharing arrangement had come close to falling apart. Protestant leaders were especially angry that the IRA had not given up its weapons.
Last week, after the IRA announced it had destroyed many of its guns, explosives and missiles, Protestant leader David Trimble said he would continue to share power with Catholics. "Actions speak louder than words, and what we are seeing now is action," he said.