The North's First Minister, Mr David Trimble, and the Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, have claimed north American political support for their conflicting stances on issues such as decommissioning and policing.
Mr Trimble yesterday published a letter of support he received from Republican US Senators Jesse Helms and John McCain, written before Saturday week's Ulster Unionist Council meeting. They commended Mr Trimble's "distinguished leadership".
"We will continue to press for decommissioning of arms by combatants in this conflict in support of your historic commitment to the Good Friday accord," they wrote.
"We commend your courage in seeking an end to the cycle of violence in Northern Ireland while properly demanding an elimination of the means to project terror," they added.
Mr Trimble, in his letter of response which was sent to all US senators and several media outlets, said: "If the IRA keep their promise to engage with the IICD on putting their weapons beyond use I will be happy to return to normal business."
Mr Trimble said he was committed to making the agreement work but felt he had no alternative to his veto.
"I have not taken this decision lightly and I do not underestimate the problems such a sanction will cause for the republican leadership. But the alternative is the loss of the Belfast Agreement," he added.
Mr Adams, who is attending Sinn Fein fund-raising functions in New York tonight and in Atlanta tomorrow night, welcomed an open letter to the British Prime Minister, Mr Blair, sent by Canadian politicians, trade unionists and human rights supporters calling for implementation of the full Patten report.
"We urge you to accept in full the recommendations of the Patten Commission, which form the minimum basis for a new policing service in Northern Ireland. Failure to do so may condemn present and future generations in Ireland to continued violence and suffering," they wrote.
Mr Adams said: "This latest intervention is an important addition to this record of support for peace in Ireland and of the vital nature and centrality of policies to the achievement of that."
Meanwhile, the Northern Secretary, Mr Peter Mandelson, has insisted that contrary to calls from Sinn Fein and the SDLP he cannot compel Mr Trimble to lift his ban on Sinn Fein Ministers attending North-South Ministerial Council (NSMC) meetings.
As British and Irish officials seek a way out of the deadlock over NSMC meetings and as Sinn Fein considers whether to legally challenge Mr Trimble's veto, Mr Mandelson repeated that a solution was contingent on the IRA re-engaging with the decommissioning body.
"I cannot order unionists to withhold these sanctions that they've taken against Sinn Fein Ministers any more than the Irish Government can order the republican movement to decommission," Mr Mandelson said in Lisburn yesterday.
A resolution of this impasse may depend on the British and Irish governments making progress on the Police Bill nearing completion in Westminster, and on issues such as demilitarisation and an amnesty for IRA prisoners on the run.
The Bill is to be completed by the end of this month, and the Irish and British governments are in negotiation to ensure that the final complexion of the legislation is more in line with the Patten proposals.
The prospects of the IRA resuming contact with Gen John de Chastelain's decommissioning body may hinge on the final shape of the Bill.
