President Clinton is "very concerned about the violence" occurring in Northern Ireland and the White House will be "very closely" following developments there this weekend.
The White House spokesman, Mr Mike McCurry, said in response to a question from The Irish Times yesterday that Mr Clinton also "welcomes and applauds" the action of the British government in initiating indirect contact talks between the Orange Order and the residents of Garvaghy Road.
He said: "That kind of dialogue, if it happens tomorrow, diminishes violence and encourages people to see that through talking they can resolve some of the differences they have."
Asked if the President intended to speak to the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, or political leaders in Northern Ireland, Mr McCurry said that the US Government is "very closely following the discussions under way."
There had been contact with British officials yesterday "to learn about the format and structure of the indirect talks." The spokesman said that the President had spoken "on at least one occasion to some of the leaders of both communities to see if they can employ their good offices to seek reconciliation to sectarian violence through dialogue and discussion, which is the premises of the peace agreement that the people of Northern Ireland have clearly put their faith and trust in."
White House officials said later that they did not expect the President would call Northern Ireland leaders over this weekend - but they did not exclude it either.