Clinton NI visit 'not imminent'

Hillary Clinton has visited Northern Ireland a number of times

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton does not have any immediate plans to visit Northern Ireland, it has emerged.

It had been thought Mrs Clinton, who visited NI a number of times when her husband Bill was president, was planning a trip in the autumn.

However, a spokesman for Mrs Clinton has said she has no such immediate plans.

He also said Mrs Clinton would not take on a special envoy to NI role, as has also been suggested recently.

"She is the Secretary of State, not a special envoy," State Department spokesman PJ Crowley told the New York-based Irish Echo newspaper.

However, State Department officials have said Mrs Clinton would remain "active on Northern Ireland" and that she would like to visit NI again "eventually".