BELFAST (Reuters) - They missed their deadline by the best part of a day, but Northern Ireland's feuding parties were finally poised on Friday to agree a political settlement to end three decades of conflict. Ten political parties were entitled to seats at the negotiations alongside British and Irish ministers. However, two Protestant parties boycotted the talks because they suspected the outcome would be a dilution of the province's centuries-old ties with Britain. Three participants have links with guerrilla groups. One of them, Sinn Fein, was admitted only last September, after a truce in July by its Irish Republican Army (IRA) guerrilla arm. The talks chairman was George Mitchell, a quietly spoken but tenacious former U.S. senator. Following is a guide to the participants. Ulster Unionist Party (UUP): The chief voice of pro-British Protestants who make up 60 percent of Northern Ireland's population. Embraces moderates and right-wingers who are intensely British. Led by David Trimble. Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP): The main moderate nationalist party of the minority Catholic population who want to bring about a united Ireland through peaceful means. Has three members of parliament in London, including leader John Hume. Sinn Fein: Led by Gerry Adams, it opposes the settlement that formalised the partition of the island of Ireland in 1922. Wants British withdrawal from Northern Ireland and merger of the province in a new all-Ireland republic. Concedes "united Ireland" will not be achieved by Friday's agreement but wants transitional arrangements. Alliance Party: A centre-ground, broadly pro-"union" group drawing support from moderate Protestants and Catholics. Leader is John Alderdice. Progressive Unionist Party (PUP): Political arm of the pro-British Ulster Volunteer Force, a Protestant "loyalist" guerrilla force. Led by David Ervine. Ulster Democratic Party (UDP): Political wing of the Ulster Freedom Fighters and Ulster Defence Association, which are "loyalist" extremist militias. Leading public face is Gary McMichael. Both the PUP and the UDP have their power bases in Protestant working class enclaves. Want fresh start with peaceful Catholic nationalists. Northern Ireland Women's Coalition (NIWC): Formed to give women a voice in the province's future and break male-dominated political mould. Has Protestant and Catholic members. Wants community groups to have greater say. Labour: Advocates working-class unity on basic issues. The two groups boycotting the talks are: Democratic Unionist Party (DUP): Backed by Protestant hardliners who accuse London of scheming with Dublin to lower the British flag and set the province on a slippery slope to a Catholic-dominated United Ireland. Led by firebrand cleric Ian Paisley. United Kingdom Unionist Party (UKUP): Formed three years ago by lawyer Robert McCartney. Suspicious that talks could weaken British rule and accuses London of bowing to guerrilla violence.