The British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, has said he still believed that an agreement was possible on the restoration of power-sharing government in Northern Ireland.
Speaking at his first news conference since his election victory a week ago, Mr Blair said he hoped there could be a deal between Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionists and Sinn Féin, provided the IRA gave up violence for good.
He rejected criticisms by the former Ulster Unionist leader, David Trimble, and Seamus Mallon of the SDLP, that he had destroyed the moderate centre by giving too much ground to republicans.
