President Clinton has expressed "regret" that the IRA did not give the de Chastelain Commission a "more timely commitment on arms decommissioning to maintain the momentum towards full implementation of the Belfast Agreement".
The President, in a brief statement last night, praised the "courage of leaders from both of Northern Ireland's communities" and said that he saw "real progress" in the second report. He urged all the parties "to build on that progress, remain engaged and carry through on their responsibilities to work together to achieve full implementation of the Good Friday accord".
The suspension of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive is a bitter blow to President Clinton, who has been working hard in recent weeks to avert this setback to the peace process.
Just two hours before the Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Mr Peter Mandelson, announced the suspension, Mr Clinton was still holding out hope that the peace process could be kept "on track".
At a ceremony in the White House to rename the press room, Mr Clinton said that there was "still some chance that we can go forward without a suspension", but he warned that there were only a few hours left to prevent that.
"Should there be a suspension", he said, "it is imperative that all the parties do it on terms which will not allow a backslide and that the opportunity be taken to figure out a way forward which again will allow everybody to meet all the requirements which the Irish public voted for with breath-taking margins."
Senator Chris Dodd said he was saddened that the parties to the agreement had been unable to bridge their differences. "The decision to suspend the Assembly and reimpose direct rule was a serious action by the Blair government, but one they believe was necessary to enhance the possibility of reactivating the Assembly at an early date. I hope that judgment proves to be true."
Senator Dodd added: "There is no question that Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams made a sincere and concerted effort to persuade the IRA to demonstrate its commitment to peace."
Mr Ben Gilman, chairman of the House International Relations Committee, commented: "It is very disappointing and a step backwards in the search for lasting peace and justice in the North of Ireland to learn that the British government has suspended the vital power-sharing institutions that had been the best chance to resolve the arms issue. The unionist veto by the Ulster Unionist Party was again exercised to force suspension under the threat of resignation by the UUP's First Minister, David Trimble."
Congressman Peter King, a co-chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee for Irish Affairs, said: "I am extremely disappointed that the British government has surrendered to David Trimble's blackmail. Sinn Fein is not in default of any provision of any agreement. Therefore, the British government has no legal or moral authority to abrogate the Good Friday agreement. I am hopeful that David Trimble will begin honest, good-faith negotiations so that the peace process can be saved."