THE director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Mr Louis Freeh, has pledged the agency's support to ensure that those responsible for the murders of the two RUC officers in Lurgan will be "fully prosecuted".
In a statement, Mr Freeh said: "These cowardly murders by terrorists determined to destroy the peace outrage the consciences of all law-abiding people. The FBI will enhance its efforts to work with all of its law enforcement partners in Great Britain, Ireland and Northern Ireland to ensure that the terrorists responsible for this evil act will be fully prosecuted, together with their organisational support and resources.
A New York Times editorial yesterday, headed "Marching Season in Northern Ireland", said the IRA murders "seem designed to provoke retaliatory violence".
It also urged Catholic leaders to "cancel a confrontational outdoors festival planned to coincide with the Orange Order march and persuade residents to protest peacefully and avoid baiting police."
It added: "This year the British government needs to take responsibility for parade routes and crowd control strategies rather than leaving such decisions to Northern Ireland's police."
Meanwhile, a high-powered group of Irish-Americans has called for "courageous actions" from all parties in the North, saying there is now a "historic opportunity" to be seized.
"A British government taking constructive action; Sinn Fein demonstrating its electoral might; an Irish Government pledged to the peace process; and an American President having unsurpassed interest in resolving the Irish conflict this is a moment which must be seized. It is an opportunity which must not be lost," the statement, signed by the four Co-chairmen of the Congressional Ad Hoc Committee for Irish Affairs and five prominent Irish-Americans said.