The World - News from Sept. 2, 1988

Rioting erupted in the streets of West Belfast, an Irish Republican Army stronghold, as Roman Catholic youths set fire to scores of vehicles and then hurled gasoline bombs and rocks at security forces, who opened fire with plastic bullets, police said. Three youths were injured in the pre-dawn clash. Police said the violence was sparked by Tuesday’s deaths of three IRA gunmen in an ambush by British commandos. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said that the increase in attacks by the outlawed IRA “strengthens the resolve of the British government that Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom and will remain so.” In West Germany, officials said two alleged IRA members arrested Wednesday are prime suspects in recent bombings of British military installations in the country.