PEACE talks in Northern Ireland seemed unlikely to produce a new IRA ceasefire, US National Security Adviser Mr Anthony Lake said yesterday.
"The talks, frankly, are not going well," Mr Lake said. Even if the IRA agreed to a truce, "there's always a danger that a ceasefire could again be broken".
"The President and all of us are working very hard to try to bring about both a ceasefire and then comprehensive and inclusive talks," Mr Lake said.
"I hope all of the parties and governments involved, if they look at the alternatives for Northern Ireland, realise that it's time to compromise, time not to get too involved in the details and move forward", he said.