The leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, Dr Ian Paisley, has said he would not be willing to accept the title of First Minister in an administration that included Sinn Féin members.
He also said he would not sit down and negotiate with Sinn Féin while the IRA retained its weapons.
He told BBC Radio 4's
Todayprogramme: "I don't accept the principle that we must sit down with armed terrorists who have enough weapons in their possession to blow up the whole of Northern Ireland."
Asked if he could accept the title of First Minister, Dr Paisley said: "Not with IRA/Sinn Fein in government." He added: "I believe we have a golden opportunity now to have this matter settled once and for all. If you are going to take part in the government of Northern Ireland, you can't have an armed army to use in blackmailing the British government and trying to get more concessions."
Sinn Féin MLA Alex Maskey said Dr Paisley could not be allowed to renegotiate the Belfast Agreement. He told
Today: "70 per cent of the elected representatives are from pro-Agreement
parties. The Good Friday Agreement is a treaty between two governments and has been endorsed by a referendum in Ireland as a whole, so it is not something that can be tinkered with.
"A new agreement would require a new treaty and a referendum. It's not a matter for one party to say they will turn that agreement on its head. The DUP must realise that they can't usurp the will of the people," Mr Maskey said.
PA