WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 29 (UPI) -- U.S. President George W. Bush telephoned Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams Sunday to discuss U.S. mediation in the conflict in Northern Ireland.
The White House confirmed that the president spoke to Adams following a call between Bush and Ian Paisley, leader of Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, the BBC reported Monday.
Adams later said that he had thanked the president "for his interest" and that he had briefed him on Sinn Fein's two objectives in the current negotiations.
"These are to get the DUP on board for an agreement and to ensure that the British government's position remains faithful to the power sharing, equality-based and all-Ireland institutions contained in the Good Friday Agreement," Adams said.
"I told him that we may need help at the White House to deliver these requirements."
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the president made the call as he flew from his Texas ranch where he had been celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday.
McClellan said that Bush had urged Adams to provide leadership to advance the peace process and that he had expressed support for the agreement proposed by British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his Irish counterpart, Bertie Ahern.
