US govt to support Good Friday Agreement
It's been confirmed the US Government will support the proposed international body set up to ensure all parties keep their obligations under the Good Friday Agreement.
Talks on the powers such a commission would have, involving the Ulster Unionists, Sinn Fein and the British government, are still continuing.
The proposed commission will examine claims from any party that another party has broken its pledges under the Agreement.
Most focus has been on David Trimble's demand that claims of continuing IRA activity should lead to sanctions against Sinn Fein. He is refusing to contemplate power-sharing with Sinn Fein again without effective sanctions.
But if a monitoring commission is established, it could cut both ways.
The courts ruled last year that the Ulster Unionist leader had breached his obligations under the terms of the Agreement by refusing to sign the papers required for ministers to attend meetings of the North South Ministerial Council.
Last night, President George Bush's special adviser on Northern Ireland, Richard Haass, said the US was ready to play its part in the proposed commission which, it's expected, would have four members.
