Bush wants closure on the Irish war

US President George W Bush is expected to call today for Republicans and Unionists to make compromises to strike a deal to get the Good Friday Agreement back on track.

And Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will tell Mr Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair that the United Nations should have the primary role in the reconstruction of Iraq at the historic meeting in Belfast.

In particular, Mr Bush is expected to push for action by the IRA to step even further away from conflict, possibly including a statement that the war is over or substantial public decommissioning.