Counting continues in NI elections

First results from 18 constituencies in Northern Ireland's Assembly Elections suggest the main parties have fared as well as in 2003.

Two days of counting are taking place across the province with ballot papers processed at centres in Belfast, Ballymena, Londonderry, Omagh, Banbridge, Newtownards, Lisburn and Antrim.

The share of the vote is not expected to change much from British parliamentary elections in 2005 when the DUP scored 34 per cent and Sinn Fein polled 24 per cent.

The Rev Ian Paisley, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, said his party appears to have increased its share of the vote. He said: "The tide is running our way", adding that Sinn Fein still "need to repent and turn from their evil way."

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams won his West Belfast seat comfortably and its chief negotiator Martin McGuinness said he believed his party had made "significant gains".

Mr McGuinness said: "For all politicians on the doorstep I think the message has been very clear - it's time to stop the messing about. There has to be power-sharing and I think Ian Paisley knows that."

The last power-sharing administration, between the more moderate parties, fell apart five years ago and London has threatened to impose indefinite direct rule, with help from Dublin, if a March 26 deadline for agreeing on a government is not met by parties.

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