Durkan goes to Boston, Trimble flies home

Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Mark Durkan will travel to Boston today on the final leg of his week-long tour of the US.

The SDLP leader has visited New York and Washington with Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble.

They addressed the World Economic Forum in Manhattan, laid a wreath to victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks, opened a Washington bureau for the North's devolved government and met key figures in the White House and Congress.

Mr Trimble is due to return to Northern Ireland today after fulfilling a number of private engagements in Washington.

But Mr Durkan plans to continue on to Boston with SDLP deputy leader Brid Rodgers for a series of events.

It is the first time the new SDLP leadership team have visited the US since replacing John Hume and Seamus Mallon in November.

Mr Durkan is due to deliver a keynote speech in Boston College tonight at a reception and dinner organised by his party.

The theme is believed to be on the "new nationalism" his party is trying to forge.

Tomorrow he will address an Irish American lunch on economic issues and will visit the Irish Immigration Centre.