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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Last soldiers to leave Bessbrook | Last soldiers to leave Bessbrook |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The British army is set to pull out of its base at Bessbrook in County Armagh for the last time. | |
| Troops will begin their final withdrawal from the village on Monday. | Troops will begin their final withdrawal from the village on Monday. |
| The move is a step in the "normalisation" programme in Northern Ireland - part of the overall political process. | The move is a step in the "normalisation" programme in Northern Ireland - part of the overall political process. |
| UUP deputy leader Danny Kennedy said paid tribute to the military for their "huge contribution to peace and the enormous sacrifices they endured". | UUP deputy leader Danny Kennedy said paid tribute to the military for their "huge contribution to peace and the enormous sacrifices they endured". |
| He said it was with mixed emotions that he acknowledged the departure of the Army. | He said it was with mixed emotions that he acknowledged the departure of the Army. |
| He added: "Pride in what they had achieved in dealing effectively with the security situation over many difficult years, and sadness for the many sacrifices endured by the military and the high cost of the many lives lost in dealing with the terrorist onslaught over the past 38 years." | He added: "Pride in what they had achieved in dealing effectively with the security situation over many difficult years, and sadness for the many sacrifices endured by the military and the high cost of the many lives lost in dealing with the terrorist onslaught over the past 38 years." |
| He said he hoped a lasting memorial would be established in the village "to recognise the service of the many thousands of military personnel who served in the area". | He said he hoped a lasting memorial would be established in the village "to recognise the service of the many thousands of military personnel who served in the area". |
| The withdrawal of the Army is part of the government's normalisation programme in response to the IRA's declared end to its activities. | The withdrawal of the Army is part of the government's normalisation programme in response to the IRA's declared end to its activities. |
| Operation Banner, the name the Army gave to its support role for the police, will end completely in August after more than 30 years - the longest running operation in British army history. | Operation Banner, the name the Army gave to its support role for the police, will end completely in August after more than 30 years - the longest running operation in British army history. |
| By the summer there will be no more than 5,000 British soldiers in Northern Ireland, based in 11 locations. | By the summer there will be no more than 5,000 British soldiers in Northern Ireland, based in 11 locations. |
| At the height of the Troubles there were almost 30,000, based in more than 100 locations. | At the height of the Troubles there were almost 30,000, based in more than 100 locations. |