MR MARTIN McGuinness, the newly elected Sinn Fein MP for Mid Ulster, has said he is looking forward to rebuilding the peace process with the incoming British government.
Mr McGuinness increased his party's vote by more than 50 per cent to defeat the sitting DUP MP, the Rev William McCrea, and the SDLP's Mr Denis Haughey.
He said he was delighted with the result, which was "a vote for peace and dialogue".
The voters of Mid Ulster had sent a clear message to both the British and Irish governments that they wanted inclusive all party talks, he said. He welcomed the British Labour Party's victory and the defeat of Mr John Major, "the British prime minister who destroyed the Irish peace process".
The new British government would not be reliant on unionist votes and would have "a red opportunity to rebuild the peace process", he added.
Asked about the possibility of a new IRA ceasefire, Mr McGuinness said he wanted to see an end to military activities by all the parties involved in the Northern conflict, including the British government.
Proposals from Mr John Hume and Mr Gerry Adams about rejuvenating the peace process had been sent to London several months ago, he said, and he was now hoping for a positive response from Mr Blair. "I am looking forward to working with the new British government to rebuild the peace process and move forward from today. It is the most urgent task ahead for us all."
The Rev William McCrea said Mr McGuinness's election was "a very sad day" for the people of Northern Ireland.
Mr Willie Thompson, the newly elected Ulster Unionist MP for West Tyrone, said if the new British government respected democracy, there would be peace in Northern Ireland.