Bush visit attempts to boost peace deadlock

US President George Bush will arrive in Northern Ireland on Monday in a dramatic intervention in crucial talks on the future …

US President George Bush will arrive in Northern Ireland on Monday in a dramatic intervention in crucial talks on the future of the peace process.

Downing Street confirmed President Bush would visit the North on Monday and Tuesday as British Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Taoiseach Mr Ahern prepare a package of proposals to secure the future of the Belfast Agreement.

Northern Ireland parties were stunned by the announcement from Downing Street and Washington, claiming the President's visit could represent "a last throw of the dice".

An Ulster Unionist source said: "We really didn't see this coming.

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"This could very much be a last minute intervention to move the process forward."

Sinn Fein and nationalist SDLP sources were also surprised to learn about the President's visit.

President Bush will arrive on Monday night and will meet Prime Minister Tony Blair to assess the progress of the war in Iraq.

The two leaders are also expected to discuss plans for a post-Saddam Iraq and the Middle East peace process.

Mr Bush is also planning talks with Mr Ahern and the leaders of the pro- Agreement parties.

The announcement came at the end of a hectic day at Stormont with talks between the pro- Agreement parties.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Cowen also took part in discussions in Belfast with the Northern Secretary Mr Paul Murphy.

Both men expressed hope that the key issues impeding progress in the peace process could be overcome when Mr Blair and Mr Ahern unveil their blueprint next Thursday.

The two governments' document will seek to create a climate for a historic move from the IRA ending all paramilitary activity.

However republicans will want to ensure that promises on policing, devolution of policing and justice powers, the scaling down of the British army presence, equality and human rights are addressed.

The Deputy Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, Mr Peter Robinson, tonight reminded the US President that he should not make any distinction between terrorism in Iraq or Northern Ireland.

The East Belfast MP said: "Terrorism is the same the world over whether it is responsible for atrocities in Northern Ireland or in New York.

"To adopt one approach to Saddam and another to the IRA would demonstrate that a greater value is being put on the lives of those in Iraq than the people of Northern Ireland."

PA