Results in the Northern Ireland assembly election show major gains for the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Féin. Sinn Féin looks set to take over from the SDLP as the largest nationalist party in the North.
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Sinn Féin and the DUP took the first two seats the North Belfast constituency this morning with the election of Democratic Unionist Mr Nigel Dodds and Sinn Féin's Mr Gerry Kelly.
The four main party leaders were all re-elected after topping the poll in their respective constituencies. Sinn Fein leader Mr Gerry Adams was returned on the first count in West Belfast, while DUP leader, Rev Ian Paisley, and his son Mr Ian Paisley Jnr topped the poll in North Antrim.
The Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, has been elected on the first count in Upper Bann, while the SDLP's Mr Mark Durkan also took his seat easily.
So far the DUP has secured 18 seats, the UUP has 11, Sinn Féin 11, the SDLP has two seats and one Independent has been elected.
Sinn Féin is predicted to take eight seats in Belfast, an increase of three, partly at the expense of the SDLP. Mrs Diane Dodds, wife of Mr Nigel Dodds, has taken a seat for the DUP in West Belfast, where Sinn Fein has taken 4 of the 6 seats.
Ulster Unionist rebels Mr Jeffrey Donaldson (Lagan Valley) and Mr David Burnside (South Antrim) were both elected. Mr Donaldson received three times the required quota. Sinn Fein's chief negotiator, Mr Martin McGuinness, of Sinn Féin was elected in Mid-Ulster.
In the most sensational result, a single issue hospitals candidate Dr KieranDeeny topped the poll in West Tyrone, which is likely to cost the strugglingSDLP another seat. A recount was ordered because the number of votes cast and those counted did not tally.
The turnout for the election was 63.84 per cent, compared to 68.8 per cent in the 1998 Assembly election.
Counting of votes began at 7 a.m. and has now ended. Counting will resume in the morning with full results due tomorrow afternoon.
Counting of first preference votes is now over. Results show the DUP had 25.71 per cent of the overall vote (177,944 votes).Sinn Féin had the second highest vote with 23.52 per cent (162,758); the Ulster Unionists had 22.68 per cent (156,931) and the SDLP had 16.99 per cent (117,547).
The cross community Alliance Party, whose leader Mr David Ford was fighting for survival in South Antrim, had a 3.67 per cent share (25,370).The loyalist PUP was on 1.16 per cent (8,032), the Women's Coalition had 5,785 (0.84 per cent) and the UK Unionists had 5,700 (0.82 per cent)
The parties are contesting 108 seats in the Assembly. Transfers will prove crucial in the elections which are based on 18 six-seater constituencies. After the last election in 1998, there were 28 UUP, 24 SDLP, 20 DUP and 18 Sinn Fein MLAs.
The result could be a huge setback for British and Irish Government hopes of gettingthe peace process up and running again. The Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy is expected to have talks with all sides next week but the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern and British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair face an indefinite delay in trying to restore devolution.
UUP leader and former first minister Mr David Trimble, says he will not go back to power-sharing with Sinn Féin unless the IRA shows it is ready to fully disarm.
Dr Paisley wants to tear up Belfast Agreement, and has said if his party holds the upper hand after the election there will be no negotiating with Sinn Féin.
