THE Minister of State for political affairs at the Northern Ireland Office, Mr Michael Ancram, has briefed White House officials, senators and congressmen on the state of the all party talks and received expressions of US support.
He said later that the renewal of a US visa for the Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, was not discussed. Since the breakdown of the IRA ceasefire, Mr Adams is not received in the White House or other offices of the administration but there is no British objection to a visa.
Mr Ancram said that in his meetings with senators there was no indication that they were "impatient" with the British government for not putting pressure on the Ulster Unionist Party to advance the talks on decommissioning with the SDLP.
It is believed, however, that some US politicians interested in Northern Ireland are unhappy with what is seen as foot dragging by the UUP in the decommissioning talks.