ALMOST half the population of Northern Ireland believes former US senator Mr George Mitchell should not be involved in negotiations on the North's political future, according to an opinion poll.
The poll of about 1,040 people for the Prime Time and Newsnight television programmes showed 48 per cent did not think Mr Mitchell should be involved, with 30 per cent of Catholics and 59 per cent of Protestants against his involvement.
In addition, 63 per cent of those polled 74 per cent of Protestants and 43 per cent of Catholics were against the US government playing a role in the talks.
The poll showed widespread support for negotiations, with 81 per cent of respondents in favour. However, there was a high level of distrust of both British and Irish governments in relation to the talks 56 per cent of Catholics and 39 per cent of Protestants indicated they did not trust the British government to act fairly and impartially in the negotiations.
Meanwhile 61 per cent of Protestants and 18 per cent of Catholics indicated similar distrust of the Irish Government. However, most people 74 per cent of Protestants and 68 per cent of Catholics considered decommissioning of paramilitary weapons the greatest obstacle to the talks.
On the future political structure of Northern Ireland, 55 per cent of those questioned wanted it to remain part of the United Kingdom, with only 13 per cent wanting it to become part of the Republic.