Comments by Lord Trimble playing down Mrs Clinton's role in securing agreement have caused waves in her presidential campaign, and led to them swiftly posting contradictory remarks on her website from John Hume.

The joint Nobel Peace Prize winners are at odds over Mrs Clinton's role in the run-up to, and after, the 1998 Good Friday accord, when she was First Lady.

A central plank in Mrs Clinton's offensive in her closely fought contest for the presidential nomination against rival Barack Obama, has been her claims of having extensive foreign policy experience, citing Northern Ireland as a prime example.

She is reported as telling CNN last week: "I helped to bring peace to Northern Ireland."

However, over the weekend Mr Trimble said she had been a "wee bit silly" for saying such.

The former Ulster Unionist leader and First Minister told the Daily Telegraph: "I don't know there was much she did apart from accompanying (former President] Bill (Clinton] going around.

Principal

"She visited when things were happening, saw what was going on, she can certainly say it was part of her experience. I don't want to rain on the thing for her, but being a cheerleader for something is slightly different from being a principal player," he added.

Former SDLP leader John Hume holds a different view and a statement in his name was put on Mrs Clinton's official website.

Countering Lord Trimble's remarks, Mr Hume said: "I am quite surprised that anyone would suggest that Hillary Clinton did not perform important foreign policy work as First Lady. I can state from firsthand experience that she played a positive role for over a decade in helping to bring peace to Northern Ireland.

"She visited Northern Ireland, met with very many people and gave very decisive support to the peace process.

"In private she made countless calls and contacts, speaking to leaders and opinion makers on all sides, urging them to keep moving forward."

According to her website, Mrs Clinton visited the Province on seven occasions between 1995 and 2004. It claims she focused especially on encouraging the emergence of women in the peace process.

Campaign

Senator Clinton took time out of her presidential campaign to meet outgoing First Minister, Ian Paisley and Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness on their joint visit to the US in December.

The row is an embarrassment for the Clinton campaign, who are locked in a closely fought and increasingly bitter battle with rival contender for the Democratic nomination Barack Obama.

Last night his campaign had not formally commented on the row, and his official website had no reference to Lord Trimble's comments.