The SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, is to be presented with the Colomba d'Ora peace award today in Rome by the Italian President, Mr Oscar Scalfaro, in a ceremony organised by the Italian Disarmament Archive.
The award has previously been given to the South African President, Mr Nelson Mandela, and former Soviet president Mr Mikhail Gorbachev. Mr Hume is to brief the Italian President on recent developments in Northern Ireland.