British prime minister Tony Blair believes an agreement can still be concluded which will lead to the restoration of powersharing in Northern Ireland.
Mr Blair said yesterday a deal between Sinn Féin and the DUP was possible - if the IRA ended all paramilitary and criminal activity.
During his first news conference since the election, Mr Blair paid tribute to outgoing Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble, who lost his seat to the DUP in Upper Bann.
"I think that what David Trimble did in Northern Ireland was immensely brave and I hope very much that that is recognised when people do a historical analysis of this," he said.
Turning to the prospects for agreement given the new political landscape after the Westminster election, he added: "I have got to work with the outcome the electorate has given. I am still actually very hopeful that we can resolve it. I think sometimes with the interplay of the different unionist parties it's been very unclear who exactly is going to end up on top, but I think that when it became apparent that the UUP couldn't make the deal with Sinn Féin the DUP gained from that."
He added: "Now I hope the DUP are prepared to share power provided there is a clear, unequivocal and complete giving up of violence, and if there isn't I will be left in the same position again."
The prime minister rejected suggestions from Mr Trimble and former SDLP MP Séamus Mallon that he had destroyed the centre ground with side deals.
Mr Blair said of Mr Mallon: "He knows perfectly well that I used to sit in my room and say to him, 'Are you prepared to go ahead without Sinn Féin? Because if they're not prepared to give up violence in the republican movement, the moderate centre can only move forward if you're prepared to move forward with the UUP.' But he never was willing to say that. I can't make the moderate centre go forward. In the end, it is for the parties to determine that."