Ulster Unionist leader Mr David Trimble was today at involved in a fresh row over comments about the Irish Republic.
The former Northern Ireland First Minister was criticised by nationalists after a newspaper in the United States reported him as saying: "If you took away Catholicism and anti-Britishness, the State doesn't have a reason to exist".
The comments reported by the editorial board of the Chicago Sun Timeswere denounced by the SDLP leader Mr Mark Durkan and by Sinn Féin.
Mr Durkan said: "David Trimble will try to present this as pointed analysis but most people will see these comments as sectarian ramblings.
"Trying to denigrate political ideals and the religion of others is only demeaning himself by demonstrating his own prejudice".
Sinn Féin leader Mr Gerry Adams described Mr Trimble's comments as gratuitous and unnecessary.
"Maybe these are unscripted remarks but I think it says more about Mr Trimble and where unionism is than it does about anything else," he said.
"He (Mr Trimble) would be better, rather than travelling to Chicago and making insulting remarks, staying here and trying to sort this out with the rest of us," he added.
A spokesman for Mr Trimble insisted the comments were taken out of context. "The interview was accurate but selective in how it was reported - it was completely wrenched out of context," he said.
"The comments he made were in relation to the question: 'Why does the Irish Republic exist and what are the reasons for partition?'"
In March, Mr Trimble had generated controversy over other comments he made about the Republic.
In his speech released to journalists at the Ulster Unionists Council meeting that month, the Upper Bann MP was reported as describing the Republic as a "pathetic, mono-ethnic and mono-cultural state". However, he told the Chicago Sun Timesthat he had not said the word "pathetic".
PA