US Senator Edward Kennedy, with Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams at his side, today called on the British government to hold elections in Northern Ireland.
Mr Adams is raising money this week in Boston and New York and rallying public support, which has always been strong among Irish-Americans.
"At a time when we're talking about both the British and the United States building democracy in Iraq, we ask what is the reason for continued delay forhaving an election in Northern Ireland," Senator Kennedy said in Boston.
British prime minister Mr Tony Blair cancelled elections in May.
He hopes to reschedule the vote for the autumn if the IRA ceases intelligence-gathering, training and recruiting, and weapons procurement - or any other activities that suggest it could abandon its 1997 ceasefire.
"The burden for this is with 10 Downing St. It's with the prime minister to set the time, to set the date," said Senator Kennedy, adding that he raised the issuewith Mr Blair during the prime minister's recent trip to Washington.
Mr Adams also plans to meet Richard Haas, a senior State Department official who has been assigned by President George W Bush to follow developments in Northern Ireland.
"The democratic imperative is to have the election," Mr Adams said. "The point of principle is that the people have the right to vote. The British governmentshould concede."
AP