Third snub for Adams in US

US senator Ted Kennedy has called off talks with Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams over the IRA's involvement in the murder of Robert McCartney.

The decision to scrap Thursday's meeting in America puts more pressure on Mr Adams, who has already been refused a meeting with President Bush and will not be attending the St Patrick's Day lunch hosted by the speaker of the House of Representatives.

Senator Kennedy's spokeswoman said: "The IRA murder of Robert McCartney and subsequent calls for vigilante justice underscore the need for IRA violence and criminality to stop and for Sinn Fein to co-operate with the Police Service of Northern Ireland."