Adams ‘confident’ US committed to peace process

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has said that he is “confident” that the US administration remains committed to the peace process.

Following discussions with US Special envoy Mitchell Reiss in Belfast on Wednesday, Mr Adams, along with party colleagues Michelle Gildernew and Gerry Kelly, said Sinn Féin was intent on achieving the re-establishment of the power sharing Executive, political institutions and all-Ireland bodies.

“I told Mr Reiss that while we all await the outcome of the IRA’s internal discussion, others have responsibilities also – not least the British and Irish governments and the DUP,” the West Belfast MP said.

“We want to resolve all of the outstanding issues. This will require a collective effort to move it forward. It will particularly require the British government to demonstrate to the DUP a determination to push ahead with the implementation of those aspects of the Agreement, demilitarisation, equality, human rights, collusion, Irish language policing and justice, irrespective of that party’s attitude to the political institutions.”

Meanwhile, the Ulster Unionist Party's sole remaining MP has ruled herself out of the race for the party leadership.

Lady Sylvia Hermon, the MP for North Down, said she had decided not to go forward in the contest to succeed David Trimble, citing family commitments for her decision.

Her husband, former RUC chief constable, Sir John Hermon, suffers from Alzheimer's disease.

(MB/SP)