Members of the US House of Representatives have called on Northern Ireland's First Minister, Mr David Trimble, to lift the ban on Sinn Fein ministers attending North-South Ministerial Council meetings.
The US House of Representatives Committee on International Affairs approved a motion from a New York Congressman, Mr Joe Crowley (Democrat), noting the decision of the Belfast High Court against such suspensions and calling for Mr Trimble to lift them.
Backing the motion, Mr Ben Gilman (Republican, New York) said the exclusions were "arbitrary and unlawful". They were also undermining nationalist support for the Belfast Agreement.
"We all know that arms surrendered today can far too easily be repurchased tomorrow and restocked. It's their use that is at issue", Mr Gilman said.
The committee also agreed a motion from Representatives Chris Smith and Peter King, respectively Democrat and Republican from New Jersey and New York, reiterating support for the current suspension of FBI/RUC exchanges and insisting on full implementation of the Patten report, which Mr Smith said had been stalled by the British government.
The motion also called for an independent judicial inquiry into the murders of Ms Rosemary Nelson, Mr Patrick Finucane and Mr Robert Hamill.
