Bill Clinton, the former US president, is to address the Hay festival of literature on May 26, on the theme of conflict resolution.

He shares the billing at the festival in Hay-on-Wye in Powys with singer Van Morrison and authors Margaret Atwood and Louis de Bernieres. Clinton is also scheduled to revisit Northern Ireland next month to receive an honorary degree from Queen's University for services to peace in the province.

Clinton's visit - to a rural British town - will be used by the government to reassure US visitors that the countryside is not out-of-bounds, and to dispel US rumours that gas masks are required to travel around rural areas.