A SENIOR US administration official yesterday blamed a "group of hard men" for trying to kill the peace process in Northern Ireland.
At the same time, the White House is keeping up its telephone contacts with Sinn Fein leaders, as well as other parties, in its efforts to get the IRA ceasefire restored.
Washington is not disguising its anger at the continued IRA campaign in London. "We strongly condemn the bombs. Every time one goes off, it makes it harder to get to talks," the official said.
But she discounted reports that President Clinton was preparing to break off contacts with the Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, if he declined to support the next stage in the political process.
"Nothing has changed. We are still talking. We remain in contact. We are trying to push to get the ceasefire back in place before the negotiations in June," the official said. "We hope we reach that goal, but there is a group of hard men trying to kill the peace process.
Asked if this meant that the White House saw Mr Adams as a figure in opposition to the "hard men who could deliver a renewal of the ceasefire, she replied: "Those are your words."
The White House has withdrawn permission for Mr Adams to raise funds in the United States and officials have refused to meet him in the White House since the IRA ceasefire ended. The two officials who remain in contact with him are the president's National Security Adviser, Mr Anthony Lake, and Ms Nancy Soderberg, of the National Security Council.