Sinn Féin president Mr Gerry Adams is to meet US President George Bush's special envoy for Northern Ireland to discuss the current deadlock in negotiations to restore devolution, it emerged today.
Mr Adams will hold talks with Ambassador Mitchell Reiss in Washington on Wednesday before returning to Ireland after a week-long tour of the United States.
It is the first meeting both men have had since Mr Bush's election victory last week.
Mr Adams, who has been in New York in recent days, said: "In the course of the past week or so I have met with senior US Congress members, senators and governors and with Irish American organisations to update them on the ongoing efforts to end the impasse in the peace process.
"I have also attended a number of functions organised by Friends Of Sinn Féin.
"The US continues to be a vital component in securing the peace process and the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.
"Wednesday's meeting with Mitchell Reiss will provide an early opportunity in the wake of last week's presidential election to urge all those in the US and particularly within the administration to continue to play this important role."
Northern Ireland politicians and the two governments have been frustrated in recent weeks by the failure to reach a comprehensive deal to restore power-sharing at Stormont.