The Belfast Agreement in Northern Ireland is under fierce new pressure tonight after big general election victories by the Rev Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).
But Sinn Féin polled well with party president Mr Gerry Adams's convincing victory in west Belfast and wins by Mr Martin McGuinness in mid-Ulster and Mr Pat Doherty in west Tyrone, where the SDLP's Mrs Brid Rodgers lost out.
With counting still going on, the DUP will have at least five MPs at Westminster, the largest number in the party's history.
The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) has six seats so far and the SDLP three.
Even though the UUP ousted Mr Robert McCartney in north Down, defeats in some key constituencies including east Derry and north Belfast dealt a devastating blow for Mr David Trimble, who retained his own seat in Upper Bann after a recount which left him a margin of just over 2,000 votes over DUP candidate Mr David Simpson.
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Sinn Fein leader,
Mr Gerry Adams |
Sinn Féin president Mr Gerry Adams was a runaway winner in west Belfast and chief negotiator Mr Martin McGuinness raised his arm in triumph in Mid-Ulster with 5,000 more votes than four years ago.
British prime minister Mr Tony Blair is expected back in Belfast later this month to re-start negotiations to try to end the decommissioning, policing and demilitarisation deadlock threatening the future of the peace process.
But with Mr Paisley's powerful new mandate - which is also bound to heighten pressure on Mr Trimble's leadership - Mr Blair will face unionist hardliners demanding he deliver on decommissioning.
Mr Paisley, who retained his North Antrim seat, insisted the Agreement would have to go because a majority of unionists didn't want it.
He said: "The rule of the Agreement was that if the majority of nationalists want it and the majority of unionists want it, then we must have it but it has now been proved that there is not a majority of unionists for this Agreement.
"I will be saying very loudly to Mr Blair when I meet him, `You have now got to keep your word. Cut out all the lying and cheating and keep your word'."
Mr Trimble has already threatened to resign as First Minister over IRA arms by July 1st and this victory by Mr Paisley's party will intensify the demands by unionists on all sides on both governments that there must be decommissioning.
Mr Nigel Dodds, who defeated Mr Cecil Walker, the Ulster Unionist Party North Belfast MP for 18 years, claimed: "This is one in the eye for Mr Trimble. It is a victory for those who want fair, accountable and decent government in Northern Ireland, and who don't want to share power with gunmen."
Mr Gregory Campbell, a winner in east Derry where the Ulster Unionist William Ross had been MP, also since l983, said: "We have given our answer to David Trimble and Tony Blair and it is still no surrender."
Mr Peter Robinson, the DUP deputy leader who retained his seat in east Belfast with another thumping majority, immediately called for unionist unity.
He said: "The unionist people have delivered their verdict. All unionists should recognise that verdict, bind together the wounds, and fight on a common policy in which we can be united and moving forward together."
PA