Talks break down, however, and the fighting starts again in west Belfast in July.

Bloody Friday

Rescue workers deal with the aftermath of Bloody Friday

Nine people are killed and many more injured as 22 bombs go off in Belfast on July 21.

In response, Whitelaw decides to get rid of no-go areas in Operation Motorman. Extra troops and special tanks are brought in and on July 31, they enter Catholic areas of Belfast and the Bogside by force, destroying barricades.

Protestant no-go areas are also broken up. The Army builds fortified posts to prevent the barricades going up again.

On the same day, a PIRA bomb kills 10 in County Derry.

Darlington conference Unionists, the Northern Ireland Labour Party and the Alliance Party attend round-table talks in Darlington in September. The SDLP does not go, but says it is ready to talk.

Britain publishes a discussion paper on the province's future in October. It repeats that Northern Ireland would remain part of the UK as long as a majority wished, but recognising the need for change to be acceptable to the Irish Republic.

Dublin Two people are killed and 80 injured by loyalist bombs on December 1 as the Dail debates special emergency powers - the measure is approved.

1972 toll The death toll for 1972 is the highest of the modern troubles: 103 soldiers, 41 police and UDR, and 323 civilians.

Referendum Northern Ireland votes 90:1 to remain part of the UK in March 1973, but Catholics boycott the poll.

New Assembly Voting on June 28 under PR for a new 78-member Assembly.

Power sharing Protestants and Catholics agree to share power on a new Executive to run Northern Ireland affairs.

Sunningdale Agreement

British PM Edward Heath signs the Sunningdale agreement

Politicians from both communities and the British and Irish governments agree on December 9 on power sharing in Northern Ireland.

They also agree to a Council of Ireland with limited jurisdiction over issues of joint concern between north and south.

Power sharing

Faulkner, resigns from the UUP

The new Northern Ireland Executive takes power in January 1974. Unionists reject Council of Ireland. Faulkner resigns as UUP leader, replaced by Harry West, but stays as leader the power-sharing executive.

On the 22nd, unionists opposed to power sharing disrupt the Assembly - Paisley is removed forcibly by police.

Sunningdale fails The Assembly approves Sunningdale in May and the loyalist Ulster Workers' Council organises power strikes. Faulkner and other unionists resign from the Executive, which collapses and direct rule resumes.

Maze riots Republican prisoners set fire to the Maze prison on October 15. Troops are brought in to quell the riot.

The following month, 33 prisoners escape from the Maze though 29 are recaptured almost immediately.

British pub bombings Five people are killed and 44 injured in Guildford on October 5. Nineteen die and 182 are wounded in Birmingham on November 21.

The Prevention of Terrorism Act is extended to Northern Ireland in December.

Truce The Provisional IRA announces a Christmas truce after talks with Protestant churchmen. It lasts until January 16, 1975.

Convention Ulster Unionists win resounding victory in elections to the Convention on May 1.

Miami Showband Three members of the Dublin-based group are killed and one is wounded in a UVF gun attack near Newry on July 31.

After a wave of UVF killings in October, the group is banned.

Internment ends The last detainees are released on December 5.