English/Nat
US President Bill Clinton continued his triumphant tour of Northern Ireland with a visit to the city of Londonderry, a former hot-bed of sectarian violence.
Clinton was given a rapturous welcome.
U-S First Lady Hillary Clinton was first up onto the podium. Then it was the turn of her husband.
Their faces said it all.
Everywhere they've gone in Northern Ireland the welcome has been the same -- warm and verging even on the boisterous.
The city has a particular resonance in Ulster's troubled history.
It was in Derry in October 1969 that the province's first violence flared and during 25 years of the troubles the city has been the scene of the worst street fighting.
But today peace was on everyone's lips.
The crowd were impatient to listen to the man they had come to hear speak, and on whom many have, rightly or wrongly, pinned their hopes of peace in the province.
UPSOUND CROWD: "We want Bill, we want Bill."
SOUNDBITE:
In a minute, in a minute. You'll get Bill in a minute, no problem. SUPER CAPTION: Councillor John Kerr, Mayor of Londonderry.
Clinton said the future of Northern Ireland was in the hands of the people and that after so much violence it was time for the peacemakers to be heard.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
Everyone in life has at some to decide what kind of person he or she is going to be. Are you going to be someone who defines yourself in terms of what you are against or what you are for? Will you be someone who defines yourself in terms of who you aren't, or who you are? The time has come for the peace makers to triumph in Northern Ireland. And the United States will support them as they do.
SUPER CAPTION: Bill Clinton, U-S President
The Christmas lights are already up in the Derry and the people of this city must hope that the seasonal message of peace and goodwill will finally hold.
