THE Lisburn bombing has been condemned at the US Conference for Trade and Investment. Senior politicians have called for restraint from loyalist paramilitaries and for there to be no retaliation.
Sir Patrick Mayhew, the Northern Secretary, called it an "evil and callous" attack. He added that while he did not know who was responsible, it looked entirely consistent with the IRA.
"Nobody need suppose that this will dent the British government from reaching a political settlement in Northern Ireland," he told a press conference.
He added that one could not imagine a greater contrast than the one between the Northern Irish councils and business leaders and over 200 American firms attempting to co operate and the IRA and others like them who claim to be operating on behalf of the people.
Sir Patrick said he believed the bombs were aimed at goading the loyalists into breaking their ceasefire.
"I very much hope that the loyalists who have shown such discipline and restraint will not be goaded into retaliation," he said.
Sir Patrick, who is returning early from the Pittsburgh conference, said he would leave it to the people to decide if "regrettable" was the right word for Mr Gerry Adams to use for this "monstrous and wicked" attack.
Talking about the absence of Sinn Fein from the current talks, Sir Patrick said the IRA and Sinn Fein were "inextricably linked" and even "dogs on the street know that".
The chairman of the talks, Senator George Mitchell, also condemned the bombing. "I clearly and unequivocally condemn such tactics," he said.
"There is no place in Northern Irish society for such tactics and I know I speak for the President when I say that.
He also expressed the hope that there would be no retaliation. "Such an action would be morally wrong and counter productive.
He added that the talks have been making slow progress and that the news of the bombing was a further setback. But the stakes were too high to let the people down.
"It is very important the people of Northern Ireland do not let the men of violence prevail and do not give way to them. Rather they should support the men and women of peace."
Senator Mitchell said he would be returning to Northern Ireland before the US election and stressed that President Clinton remained committed to the peace process.
"Even as I was going in to role play the debate (with Bob Dole) with him he insisted last Thursday that I take 30 minutes out to brief him on affairs in the North," he said. "That is the level of his commitment."
Other politicians in Pittsburgh 159 condemned the bombing and insisted it would not succeed in weakening their resolve.
The Minister for Trade and Tourism, Mr Kenny, said he utterly condemned whoever was behind the bombs. He insisted that despite the bombing there must be a strong underlining message that business would continue to be done in Pittsburgh.
Baroness Denton, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, said she joined in the condemnation of the explosions.
"This is totally a waste of time and totally unnecessary," she said. "It won't work, didn't work and it's not going to work."
Later last night, Mr Kenny, speaking in place of the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, at the conference's main dinner, told delegates that political leaders must be made aware that confrontation and polarisation were costly indulgences, not just in the political sphere but in terms of the welfare of the whole society.
"At times those caught up in the complexity and intensity of political negotiation can lose sight of the economic consequences of their actions."
The speech also called for business and trade union leaders in Northern Ireland to have the courage to stand up and remind the rest of society of what was at stake.
"Their message has not always earned political gratitude but is now more timely than ever.