Sinn Féin has said progress towards restoring the North's power-sharing Executive can be made when politicians attend St Patrick's Day celebrations in Washington this week
"All of these occasions play their part in bringing people together," said party chairman, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin. "The first meeting we had with the unionists and, indeed, the loyalist representatives happened in America."
The Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, who arrives in the US for a week-long visit tomorrow, urged President Bush to talk tough to Sinn Féin.
"Ideally, we would like Washington to deliver a blunt, unequivocal message to Irish republicans. If Sinn Féin and the IRA fail this final test, then the US should reconsider its approach to them."
Mr Trimble said the US was about to fight a "just war against a fascist and a dictator in the Middle East", a war Sinn Féin opposed. "The US is right to pursue Saddam and remove him from power, but Sinn Féin side with the Iraqi tyrant and against America. Why? Perhaps republicans see Saddam as not such a bad guy. Maybe they see him as someone who is misunderstood? Maybe they believe he didn't murder, torture and terrorise opponents and ethnic minorities in his own country?
"These are the people who are going to the US to claim their position has credibility. Their mask has slipped and not for the first time. Their jungle adventures and support for FARC in Colombia sent alarms ringing in Washington."
Mr Trimble claimed Sinn Féin's "terrorist friends" were responsible for drugs that "pollute the streets of the US" and republicans had refused to condemn September 11th. "Increasingly, Americans are seeing through the blarney and double-speak. They know they are not their friends." While Sinn Féin and the Provisional IRA remained "wedded to violence", they should be treated not as democrats "but as bullies who, just like Saddam, still possess weapons of destruction".
Mr Trimble, who met Mr Gerry Adams for talks at Stormont yesterday, said devolution could be rapidly restored in the North if republicans took the necessary, confidence-building steps. The Provisional IRA must decommission all its weapons, declare its war is over, and cease all paramilitary activity.
Decommissioning must occur in an "open and verifiable manner". It must be seen to be done. Relying on the word of the head of the decommissioning body, Gen John de Chastelain, that it took place was not enough, Mr Trimble said.
Mr McLaughlin described his comments as provocative. He accused the UUP leader of setting out to exclude Sinn Féin from the start of the talks.
"He hasn't succeeded, nor will he succeed, and those particularly from the American administration recognise the progress and contribution my party has made."
The SDLP leader, Mr Mark Durkan, who yesterday met the Northern Secretary, Mr Paul Murphy, questioned the attitude of some parties: "The governments seem to be wound up in a process that is not about resolving default but parties finding fault with each other.
"That is only going to create a whinge-whinge situation, whereas what the SDLP wants is a win-win situation, in terms of the total implementation of the agreement, for everyone."
Mr Durkan held talks with the Taoiseach in Dublin last night.
The SDLP leader will attend a function hosted by the Northern Ireland Office in Washington tomorrow. On Thursday, he will meet Congressman Jim Walsh of the Foreign Relations Committee.
Mr Trimble is also meeting key figures from Capitol Hill during his trip. Both men, and Mr Adams, will attend the White House function to celebrate St Patrick's Day.
The Sinn Féin US delegation includes: Mr Martin McGuinness, Mr Pat Doherty, Mr Martin Ferris and Mr Gerry Kelly.