Adams' comments outrageous - SDLP

Alasdair McDonnell has said he is not sure Gerry Adams wants a deal to enable the Stormont Executive to meet again.

The SDLP deputy leader criticised the Sinn Fein President for comments he made to supporters in New York.

Mr Adams told his American audience few people were as petty and mean spirited as those who he described as being on the "Afrikaner wing of unionism".

"I'm convinced that Gerry Adams isn't even half-hearted about a settlement," he said.

"I'm not sure he wants a settlement any more and I think that his comments in New York were outrageous regardless of the accuracy of them or otherwise.

"They were outrageously made at a point in time where Sinn Fein were supposed to be trying to get a settlement."