The Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, is to visit Australia in February. The eight-day- trip will include visits to Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne and Perth. Mr Adams, who was recently granted a visa by the Australian government, is hoping to meet representatives of political parties, trade unions and the Irish- Australian community.
The Sunday Age newspaper said the leader of the Australian Labor Party, Mr Kim Beazley, would meet Mr Adams if invited. A spokesman for the prime minister, Mr John Howard, said it was uncertain if he would agree to talks because of Mr Adams's failure to condemn IRA violence.