Hume: 'Yes' vote a step to world peace

John Hume is predicting there will be a 'yes' vote in the Nice Treaty referendum next week.

The former SDLP leader says that he is confident the Irish people will vote for inclusion of the former Eastern states in the EU.

Speaking at a joint conference with the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and former Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald, Mr Hume maintained the inclusion would be a major step towards world peace.

Commenting on the history of the world wars, he said a united Europe would not only be peace for Europe but for the world.