The US envoy to the North is to step down at the end of the month, it was revealed tonight.

Allegations that loyalist killers were shielded by police are to be raised with officials in Washington, the US Consul General in the North vowed today.

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has sought to move the spotlight away from his outspoken attack on US President George Bush’s special envoy to Northern Ireland.

The US government was tonight urged to close any loophole which would enable Gerry Adams to raise money at American fundraising events even if he is barred from attending them.

The family of a Dublin man who was allegedly killed by an IRA member last year has met the US special envoy to the North and the US Ambassador to Ireland as part of their campaign for justice.

US President George Bush's special envoy to Ireland is to meet the family of a Dublin man who they say was murdered by republicans.

Political change is occurring in Northern Ireland even if its pace is too slow for some, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams insisted today.

It is only a matter of time before Sinn Féin joins other Northern parties in signing up to policing reforms, a senior United States government official claimed today.

The Bush administration's special envoy to the North is due to hold talks with the local political parties today as efforts continue to restore the power-sharing institutions.

The Bush administration's special envoy to the North has expressed optimism about the prospects for restoring devolution in the near future.

Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern is to meet with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington DC this week to discuss the peace process in Northern Ireland and the plight of the estimated 25,000 undocumented Irish in the United States.

The North's political parties must make progress towards restoring devolution if they are to maximise American investment in the province, they were told tonight.

President George Bush’s officials would be making a mistake if they place any restrictions on Gerry Adams’ ability to speak at fundraising events in the US, Washington was warned today.

TWO men were arrested and questioned yesterday in connection with the murder of a Belfast man who was stabbed to death outside a bar in the city.

Two men were today arrested in connection with the murder of Belfast father of two Robert McCartney.

The Rev Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionist Party today had talks with the clergymen whose witnessing of IRA arms decommissioning they have questioned.

The Democratic Unionist Party has launched a scathing verbal attack on US President George W Bush's special envoy to Ireland over his criticism of unionist politicians.

NORTHERN politicians were told yesterday by the British Government not to squander the opportunity to restore devolved government if the IRA lived up to its promise to fully disarm and commit to peace.

UNIONIST leaders should be barred from serving in government if they cannot uphold the rule of law, US special envoy Mitchell Reiss said yesterday.

THE Colombia Three issue must not cause difficulties in relations between Ireland and America, US envoy on Northern Ireland Mitchell Reiss said yesterday.

BEHIND the scenes pressure was mounting on the IRA to finally deliver on decommissioning last night as loyalist rioters again threatened to plunge the North into chaos.

Unionist leaders should be barred from serving in government in Northern Ireland if they cannot uphold the rule of law, United States special envoy Mitchell Reiss said today.

The Colombia Three issue must not cause difficulties in relations between Ireland and the US, it was claimed today.

The North's politicians were today told by the Government not to squander the opportunity to restore devolved government if the IRA lived up to its promise to fully disarm and commit to peace.

THE IRA’s historic statement ending its armed campaign was yesterday widely hailed as a clear and unambiguous confirmation that its war is over.

THE IRA’s pledge to abandon its armed campaign was hailed a dramatic step forward yesterday by American political figures.

The IRA’s pledge to abandon its armed campaign was hailed a dramatic step forward today by senior Irish American figures.

SINN FÉIN'S Washington representative, Rita O'Hare, has been granted a visa waiver to the US a month after a similar application was rejected.

Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness said today he was concerned at the refusal by the US State Department to grant a visa waiver to a senior party representative.

US President George W Bush's special envoy to Ireland is due to meet the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, in Dublin today to discuss the latest state of play in the peace process.

The British government will not cut side deals with the Republican movement to speed up the resumption of power-sharing, UK Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Peter Hain said tonight.

The US administration put fresh pressure on the IRA today to declare its total rejection of violence and backing for democracy in Northern Ireland.

The family of murdered Belfast man Robert McCartney has claimed the PSNI is moving closer to bringing charges in relation to the case.

The new Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain is due to hold his first meeting with the Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern in Dublin today.

IRA members are in talks about ending paramilitary and criminal activities and decommissioning their weapons, according to the Taoiseach.

The British and Irish governments should challenge republicans and unionists in Northern Ireland to advance politics by lifting the suspension of the Stormont Assembly, ministers were urged tonight.

US President George Bush’s special envoy to Northern Ireland today declared his first meeting with new Northern Secretary Peter Hain a “very good start” in bringing peace.

US president George Bush’s special envoy to Northern Ireland, Ambassador Mitchell Reiss, will hold his first meeting with new Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain in London today, as efforts to revive the Stormont Assembly step up a gear.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair is to meet the Rev Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams later this week to assess the chances of a return to devolution in Northern Ireland, it emerged tonight.

The McCartney family will head for home today after a whirlwind tour of Washington that saw their campaign to hold the IRA to account make an unprecedented impact.

THE family of murdered Belfast man Robert McCartney will leave Washington this weekend confident their story has been heard but even more determined to ensure his death brings change in the North.

The family of murdered Belfast man Robert McCartney will leave Washington this weekend confident their story has been heard but more determined than ever to ensure his death brings change in Northern Ireland.

THE North’s most senior policeman Hugh Orde yesterday hit back at claims that the investigation into the murder of Belfast father of two Robert McCartney is being manipulated to damage Sinn Féin.

The Canadian judge who ordered a public inquiry into British state collusion in the murder of Pat Finucane has slammed London's plans to limit its scope and powers.