George Mitchell, the man who helped hammer out the Good Friday Agreement, has been reported as saying he will not return to chair any new round of Northern Ireland talks.

A United States magazine has reported that the former US senator said personal tragedies and missing his family had made him decide he would not commit himself to taking charge of the peace process again.

Senator Mitchell won admiration for his unfailing efforts to urge Northern Ireland's political parties to talk to one another to bring peace closer, over five years.

He also chaired an intensive review last year after the peace process crashed over the issues of arms decommissioning and the formation of the Assembly executive.

During the years of his involvement, Mr Mitchell's wife had a miscarriage but later gave birth to a son, Andrew, and Mr Mitchell's brother Robbie died of cancer.

The magazine Saga reported that he was now determined not to be apart from his family.

The senator said: "That's it! I don't have any intention of returning.

"The separations were constant. I made a real effort to get back to the United States to see the family on a regular basis and my wife was understanding."

Interviewed by Saga while on holiday with his wife Heather in Rome, Senator Mitchell said his commitment to the peace process had been punishing on his personal relationships.

He added: "My role is complete. I don't intend to return to second guess, in very difficult circumstances, these political leaders."

However, Mr Mitchell will still play a role in the life of Northern Ireland as he is chancellor of Queens University in Belfast.

He attended graduation ceremonies in Belfast last year and is expected to return again to the university and to carry out a series of engagements this summer.

Mr Mitchell is also involved in a charitable foundation which he recently launched in Belfast.

'Driving force'

Speaking to Saga Mr Mitchell said sometimes felt discouraged, frustrated and exhausted during high level meetings with political leaders.

And that his wife had been the driving force behind his determination to try to save the peace process after he received an appeal from Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern and the then Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam.

He told the magazine he was spurred into action when she told him: "You've got to go, because if you don't and the conflict resumes you'll never forgive yourself."

Few moments of hope

He told the magazine his worst moments were over Christmas 1997 when an "acrimonious wrangle" developed between political leaders brought together in a new drive to try to secure a peace deal.

He said: "We made an intense effort to make a statement on the key issues but an acrimonious wrangle developed. I was very angry and frustrated.

"Two days after Christmas, Billy Wright was murdered in the Maze prison.

"By February I thought the process was in danger of collapsing. That is when I decided to try and persuade the participants to agree on an early fixed deadline. There were very few moments of hope in that period."

'Decommissioning essential'

Mr Mitchell remained hopeful that the peace process would succeed but warned that decommissioning was vital.

He said that based on his most recent discussions with those involved, they were aware they have to move the process forward.

"I don't think there will be such a thing as standing still. And if they don't move it forward, the agreement will simply not be implemented."

He added: "The Good Friday Agreement must be implemented in its entirety, or it won't be implemented. Decommissioning was an essential part of the agreement and it must occur."