UNIONISTS and republicans must not allow a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to strike a peace deal in the North slip away, the Rev Jesse Jackson said last night.

Unionists and republicans must not allow a once in a lifetime opportunity to strike a Northern Ireland peace deal slip away, the Reverend Jesse Jackson said tonight.

Civil rights campaigner the Rev Jesse Jackson will today take part in a Belfast awards ceremony recognising the city’s Filipino community following a spate of racial attacks in recent days.