Blair and Clinton determined to move peace process forward

Ulster Girl Talks of Letter to Blair

Mr Blair told American TV viewers on Sunday how her letter had strengthened his resolve to find a solution to the problems in Northern Ireland.

The letter to Mr Blair, which forms part of a Peace Wall at the school, describes how the 12-year-old Protestant girl desperately wants peace. "I live in the Shankill Road district of Belfast, an area that has seen a lot of trouble. In my whole life I have only had one year of peace, so peace is very important to me."

"I am asking people to send me a copy of their favourite poem or verse about peace. I would like to display all my replies so that other pupils in my school can read them. I feel that this could even contribute to the peace situation. I would be very grateful if you could reply, a photograph would also help my display."

Margaret's school was contacted by Downing Street this morning and told that the Prime Minister intends to send her the lyrics of the Fureys' song about peace. Pupils at the school have written to 136 world leaders and celebrities for their project. The letter to Mr Blair was sent on May 20. On the bottom Margaret wrote a personal message of congratulations to the Prime Minister on his General Election success.

"The fact that he's talking about it makes it seem like he will do something," said the schoolgirl. I wanted him to know that when we had peace it was so good because we were able to go down the town without worrying. Now I am scared again." Margaret also described how she spent the past two summers with a Catholic family in America. "I got on so well with them, they didn't think about religion or anything like that," she said.