Politicians from the Republic made their way across the border today to support the SDLP in their election campaign.
Mr Ivor Callely, TD, Minister of State for Health and Children travelled from Dublin to Belfast to canvass for Mr Alban Maginness and Mr Pat Convery, both standing in North Belfast.
Mr Callely said: "From the very beginning the SDLP have played a vital and integral role within the Northern Ireland peace process and have displayed great courage and leadership throughout."
He said he was happy to lend his support to the two SDLP candidates who, he said, had shown "tremendous leadership in the community of North Belfast".
Separately, former Labour Party leader Mr Ruairi Quinn, led a delegation of party activists to support SDLP North Antrim candidates Mr Sean Farren and Mr Declan O'Loan in their campaign.
Mr Quinn said he was proud to show solidarity with his sister party north of the border.
He added: "The SDLP's message of peace and social justice is needed now more than ever in the North and I am hopeful that both Sean Farren and Declan O'Loan can be elected to the Assembly."
Mr Durkan admitted today he had wanted Mr Seamus Mallon to take overthe leadership of the party when Mr John Hume stood down two years ago."I would have had no problem serving in the party under Seamus Mallon. That's what I wanted to happen, that was my first choice for a number of reason," he said on BBC Northern Ireland's Inside Politics.
Even when he took over the leadership he had wanted Mr Mallon to stay on as Deputy First Minister in the Stormont Executive.
Mr Mallon ruled himself out of the contest and is remaining as Deputy First Minister.
Mr Durkan said taking on the leadership role of Mr Hume and the ministerial position of Mr Mallon within a week had created difficulties.
But he insisted "I am not a reluctant leader by any means.".