The recent killings of two British soldiers and a policeman have stoked fears of further violence here.

The region called Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, has a long history of conflict. The situation here has been peaceful in recent years. But earlier this month, two British soldiers and a policeman were killed by gunmen. And Northern Ireland's residents worry that the shootings could bring a return to the violence that went on for decades here -- a time known simply as the "Troubles." Have you ever heard about the conflict in Northern Ireland?

The recent killings were reportedly committed by members of a group that split off from the Irish Republican Army, or IRA. The IRA was a military group of Catholics that wanted the British to leave Northern Ireland, often using violence to try to achieve their goal. Its leaders finally decided to stop using violence, and in 2005 they signed a peace agreement and announced they were giving up their weapons. But some people who had been involved in the IRA's fight were not happy about that decision. Do you think violence or terrorism ever works?

In the days after the shootings, thousands of people held peace rallies. Residents are hoping that the killings do not prompt revenge attacks by groups that oppose the IRA. These Protestant groups call themselves "Loyalists" or "Unionists." They also have often used violence to fight the IRA and have killed many innocent people. Why do you think some people here want a return to violence? Let's take a closer look at the complicated history of this conflict.