SINN Fein's success in winning two Westminster seats, combined with the landslide Labour victory in Britain, has strengthened prospects for a renewed IRA ceasefire, according to nationalist sources in the peace process.
As Sinn Fein leaders pressed the new government in London to "restore" or "rebuild" the peace process, Dr Mo Mowlam said there was a "door open" if the IRA would allow others to pass through it.
Dr Mowlam, expected to be confirmed as the new Northern Secretary, told the BBC: "I have made it very clear that none of my colleagues will have any contact with Sinn Fein while the IRA make that impossible. However, there is a door open there, and they know the conditions through which they will facilitate and permit others to pass through."
The coming weeks could prove crucial in laying the basis for a restored ceasefire with "confidence-building" measures from both sides. Moves from the British government in relation to prisoners, the reopening of the Bloody Sunday inquiry and an acceptance of the North Report on parades and marches would enhance the climate for an end to the IRA campaign.
The republican movement would be expected to make reciprocal gestures, such as ensuring an end to paramilitary beatings in nationalist areas.
Sinn Fein is now the third-largest party in Northern Ireland, with 16 per cent of the vote, haying overtaken the Democratic Unionist Party, which obtained 14 per cent.
The Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, said after he had regained his parliamentary seat in West Belfast that the outcome "makes it a compulsion for all of those in the establishment in London and Dublin to urgently restore a proper peace process
His party colleague, Mr Martin McGuinness, said after his victory in Mid Ulster: "What we require of the new British government is a real and determined attempt to rebuild a new peace process in this country. That is the most urgent task facing the new British Prime Minister, Tony Blair."
In a personal message to Mr Blair, Mr Adams urged him to "seize the opportunity to resolve the single biggest issue which besets the relationship of the people of his country and the people of our country and be the prime minister not just to lead Britain into the next century but to lead Ireland and Britain into a peaceful next century."
The leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, Mr David Trimble, said he did not expect much change in British policy under a Labour administration.
"We have had a good relationship with them over the past couple of years and we note that they have made it clear they are going to follow basically the same policies as the Conservatives."
The SDLP deputy leader, Mr Seamus Mallon, said he hoped Labour "hits the deck running as far as Northern Ireland is concerned".
Ministers had to face the problems immediately. "They cannot have time to read themselves in. They cannot take time to sit and overview the situation for a number of months."
The Sinn Fein vote increased from 10 per cent at the 1992 general election to 16 per cent. This compares with 15.5 per cent in last year's Forum poll. The larger nationalist party, the SDLP, also increased its share on 1992, from 23.5 per cent to 24 per cent. However, the loss of Dr Joe Hendron's seat to Mr Adams means that the SDLP now has three MPs instead of four.
On the unionist side, the position of the UUP has been strengthened in relation to the Rev Ian Paisley's DUP. While the UUP has gone from nine to 10 seats, the loss of the Rev William McCrea's seat in Mid Ulster means that the DUP now has only two representatives at Westminster.