MORE RIOTING ERUPTED THROUGHOUT NORTHERN IRELAND EARLY TODAY (14 AUGUST), PLUNGING THE PROTESTANT-CATHOLIC BRITISH PROVINCE TO THE BRINK OF CIVIL WAR.

A WAVE OF GUNFIRE AND ARSON SPREAD FROM TOWN TO TOWN AS NORTHERN IRELAND BECAME ENGULFED IN ITS GRAVEST CRISIS SINCE THE PARTITION OF IRELAND NEARLY 50 YEARS AGO.

SHOTS WERE FIRED IN BELFAST, THE CAPITAL, LONDONDERRY, TORN BY TWO NIGHTS OF RIOTS, AND DUNGIVEN. HALF A DOZEN OTHER TOWNS WERE ABLAZE AFTER ANGRY CROWDS TURNED STREETS INTO BATTLEFIELDS.

MILITANT IRISH PROTESTANTS AND CATHOLICS, IN A FRENZY OF DESTRUCTION AND BATTLE, REVIVED THEIR AGE-OLD RELIGION-CENTRED QUARREL WITH PETROL BOMBS AND CUDGELS FROM BEHIND BARRICADES THAT TURNED WHOLE DISTRICTS INTO VIRTUAL FORTS.

POLICE, EXHAUSTED AFTER 36 HOURS OF NON-STOP RIOT DUTY IN LONDONDERRY, OPENED FIRE WITH REVOLVERS EARLY TODAY AS PETROL BOMBS RAINED FROM A WAREHOUSE. THEY FIRED A VOLLEY OF BETWEEN 30 AND 60 SHOTS TO ESCAPE THE BOMBARDMENT. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME POLICE HAD BROUGHT OUT GUNS SINCE THE RIOTS STARTED AFTER A PROTESTANT PARADE THROUGH THE PREDOMINANTLY CATHOLIC CITY ON TUESDAY (12 AUGUST).

EIGHT MEN ARE REPORTED TO BE IN HOSPITAL WITH BULLET WOUNDS, AND 130 POLICE AND 60 CIVILIANS HAVE SO FAR BEEN TREATED AT HOSPITAL.

ULSTER'S RIOTS ARE THE CULMINATION OF TEN MONTHS OF PROTESTANT-CATHOLIC VIOLENCE SPARKED BY CIVIL-RIGHTS DEMANDS FOR BETTER POLITICAL DEAL BY THE MAJORITY TOWARDS NORTHERN ??? ONE-THIRD CATHOLIC MINORITY.