BELFAST, March 8: British authorities launched a huge manhunt in Northern Ireland on Sunday after gunmen killed two soldiers as pizzas were delivered to a barracks, in an attack seen as a threat to peace in the province.

Leaders across the political and religious spectrum condemned the attack in which four people were also wounded. Britain’s Premier Gordon Brown insisted Northern Ireland would not be dragged back into sectarian strife.

Gunmen entered a British Army base late Saturday as pizzas were delivered and fired up to 40 shots in two long bursts of gunfire -- including shots at those already on the ground, police said.

It was the first deadly attack on British troops in Northern Ireland since one was shot dead by a sniper in February 1997.

The two dead soldiers from the

unclaimed attack at the Royal Engineers’ Massereene barracks, northwest of Belfast were due to deploy soon to Afghanistan.

Three other men were in serious condition in hospital and one was critical.

Two of the four are soldiers, while the other two are pizza delivery men.

The shootings have raised fears for the stability of Northern Ireland’s power-sharing government, which includes former foes from across the Protestant-Roman Catholic divide.

Leaders from all sides in Britain, Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic said the attack must not be allowed to undermine the peace process, a decade on since the 30 years of sectarian bloodshed were largely ended.

“The whole country is shocked and outraged at the evil and cowardly attacks,” Brown said.—AFP
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