IRA criminal activity is affecting Sinn Féin's image in the United States and raising serious questions about the peace process, SDLP leader Mark Durkan claimed last night.
After a meeting in Washington with US President George Bush's special envoy on Northern Ireland, Ambassador Mr Mitchell Reiss, Mr Durkan said he believed Ulster parties would not be invited to St Patrick's Day celebrations at the White House this year.
Mr Durkan said his sense from his visit to the United States was that the Bush administration was loathe to have Northern Ireland parties involved in St Patrick's Day celebrations this year.
However, Mr Durkan said he and Mr Reiss had not discussed the annual St Patrick's Day event hosted by President Bush.
"My interest is not in whether we are invited to the White House or not. My main concern is how we get the political institutions in Northern Ireland back up and running."
Mr Durkan was accompanied to Washington by SDLP Deputy Leader Dr Alastair McDonnell and former leader Mr John Hume. The delegation also met New York Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator Edward Kennedy.
A reception was also being held in Mr Hume's honour, recognising his work for peace ahead of his retirement from the House of Commons as the MP for Foyle since 1983.