Inquiry sought on claims of US leak

Leading unionist politicians have called for an investigation into allegations by the former US ambassador to London, Mr Raymond Seitz, that the White House leaked British secrets to the IRA.

The DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, said the American administration owed the people of Northern Ireland an apology. "Not only is Clinton exposed as a moral deviant but as a political soft touch for the IRA," he said. The Ulster Unionist Party MP for Lagan Valley, Mr Jeffrey Donaldson, described the allegations as worrying, and called on the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, to initiate an inquiry. "The suggestion that sensitive intelligence information is finding its way into the hands of the IRA is something we had not anticipated, and I think it is a serious breach of security," he said.

The DUP secretary, Mr Nigel Dodds, also calling for an immediate inquiry, said it was "breathtaking" that a "friendly power should abuse its position of trust to help an illegal terrorist group".

"This news will reinforce the view already held by many unionists that the Clinton administration is inherently hostile to the unionist position, and using its leverage in Northern Ireland to advance the aims of Sinn Fein and nationalists in general." Denis Coghlan, Chief Political Correspondent, writes: The US Ambassador to Ireland, Mrs Jean Kennedy Smith, has declined to respond to searing criticisms of her professional judgment and motivations in connection with Sinn Fein and the IRA.

Mrs Kennedy Smith was described as "a naive IRA apologist", "a promotion agent for Gerry Adams" and as "wilful and skittish" in an extract from a forthcoming book by Mr Seitz. She wanted, he said, "to promote the reunification of Ireland".

Mr Seitz clashed with Mrs Kennedy Smith on her appointment in 1993 when she sought to cultivate contacts in Northern Ireland, which fell within his area of responsibility. And he disagreed trenchantly with her support for the granting of a US visitor's visa to Mr Gerry Adams in 1994. Her influence within the White House was especially galling, in light of the traditional "special relationship" between the US and the UK. The Department of Foreign Affairs had no formal comment to make about the matter yesterday. But one informed source said the criticisms seemed to involve "a London ambassador appointed by Republicans and a Dublin ambassador appointed by Democrats". The London ambassador had wanted to keep relations smooth between the US and the UK, because of their special relationship, by denying Mrs Kennedy Smith a role in Northern Ireland. He would have resented her influence and the growing clout of the Irish Government in Washington.

Mrs Kennedy Smith had played an important role in developing a better Irish/United States relationship, he said, and "her work has been appreciated and valued by successive governments because of the inputs she has made".

Another Government source said Mrs Kennedy Smith had played a key role in maintaining the focus of the US administration on the peace process.