Hume accuses Seitz of ignorance about the situation in the North

The SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, has issued a strong and personal attack on Mr Raymond Seitz, who has claimed that the White House leaked British secrets to the IRA.

Mr Seitz in a forthcoming book also accuses the US Ambassador to Dublin, Mrs Jean Kennedy Smith, of being an ardent republican "apologist", and a "promotion agent" for Mr Gerry Adams. The claims reported in the Sunday Telegraph prompted Mr Hume to accuse Mr Seitz of ignorance about the situation in Northern Ireland. He said Mr Seitz's claims were "not only untrue but were completely irresponsible".

"The charitable view of his remarks is that they expose his ignorance of the situation in Northern Ireland. It is very clear that during his ambassadorship he had no understanding of the situation, and it is quite clear he still doesn't understand," he added.

The SDLP leader, responding to Mr Seitz's opposition to Mr Gerry Adams receiving a US visa prior to the first IRA ceasefire, said the Sinn Fein president's visit to the US was an "essential step" towards that cessation. Mr Hume defended President Clinton and Ms Kennedy Smith's role in the process. "The peace process in Northern Ireland which was fully supported by Ambassador Kennedy Smith and President Clinton has saved hundreds of human lives," he stated. Clinton's arrival marked a departure in North policy: page 16