British army soldiers patrol 26 August 1971 in the

LONDONDERRY, UNITED KINGDOM: British army soldiers patrol 26 August 1971 in the Bogside quarter of the city of Londonderry during heavy clashes between the Catholic minority, loyal to the Irish Republican Army (IRA), and Protestants. Between 1970 and 1971, the IRA took up arms while Protestant loyalist militias attacked Catholics. Since the partition of Ireland in 1921, the IRA has fought for a complete withdrawal of British troops from Northern Ireland and a reunification of the island of Ireland. Around 3,500 people have died and almost 40,000 have been injured in sectarian violence involving the IRA and pro-British-rule unionist paramilitaries--the so-called loyalists. (Photo credit should read AFP via Getty Images)