FOUR leading US senators have nominated Mr John Hume for the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize for his work in achieving the ceasefires in Northern Ireland.
Democratic senators Mr Edward Kennedy, Mr Christopher Dodd, Mr Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Mr Claiborne Pell described the SDLP leader as "one of the greatest apostles of non violence in our time" in a letter to the director of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Mr Francis Seiersted, dated January 29th.
They said Mr Hume, "a courageous leader" has "dedicated and risked his life for the cause of human rights and peace in his native land". "His work also serves as an encouragement to those in other divided societies, who suffer from oppression and violence while seeking the dream of democracy, econonic progress and social justice.
JUDGMENT has been reserved in the Belfast Crown Court trial of two men accused of involvement in the murder of Mr Sean Monaghan in August 1994.
Mr Monaghan (20), a Catholic living with his Protestant girlfriend and their twin baby daughters, managed initially to escape after being kidnapped by men claiming to be from the IRA, but was duped again and handed back to his killers.
He was shot four times in the head and his gagged and bound body was found on waste ground at Ottawa Street, Belfast, on August 14th, 1994, after the UFF claimed responsibility for the murder in a coded telephone call.
Mr William Harris (36), of Fifth Street, and Mr William Andrew Graham (32), of Bray Court, both Belfast, have denied committing the murder.
Two other men are already awaiting sentence in the ease after pleading guilty during the monthlong trial.