Adams says no justification for Sept 11 attacks

Gerry Adams says there is no justification for the September 11 terror atrocities. He also stresses the "fundamentalist approach" of Osama bin Laden is wrong.

The Sinn Fein leader told CNN as he arrived in New York for a six-day visit to America: "Clearly, there are people from his part of the world who support him.

"But I don't think there is any justification for what happened in the twin towers. Or for what happened at the Pentagon, or for what happened to people who died when the plane plunged to the ground in Pennsylvania.

He added: "Of course, one person's freedom fighter, one person's patriot, is another person's terrorist."

Mr Adams said it was "dreadful" that there were wars and conflicts: "But I believe that people have the right to defend themselves and nations have the right to defend themselves."

Mr Adams denied the IRA had been pushed into decommissioning following the September 11 attacks and the arrest in August of three suspected IRA members in Colombia on suspicion of training left-wing guerrillas.

"I think those that have tried to present this as the IRA being pressurised are missing the point."

Instead the announcement was to show people there is "another way" of sorting out difficulties by making the peace process work.

Mr Adams is hoping to raise up to £300,000 for families of the victims of the September 11 attacks at the annual friends of Sinn Fein dinner tonight.