The leader of Ireland's Sinn Fein party, Gerry Addams, was detained at Ronald Reagan Airport in Washington for security screening after a visit to the White House on Friday, media reports said Saturday.

Earlier on Friday, Adams had been attending a St. Patrick's Day event at the White House, where Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern presented the traditional St Patrick's Day gift to U.S. President George W. Bush, Britain's BBC reported.

U.S. congressman Brian Higgins, who had invited Adams to speak at the Buffalo Irish center, confirmed that Adams did not make it to Buffalo in time because he was detained at Ronald Reagan Airport.

According to Higgins, Adams' name appeared on a terror watch list at the airport, triggering a longer inspection. Adams was detained for an hour-long screening, he said.

Sinn Fein is the political wing of the Irish Republican Army (IRA).

Source: Xinhua