The path to peace in Northern Ireland will see further anguish, John Reid has admitted.

The Northern Ireland secretary pledged to continue the search for peace, but conceded there would still be serious problems ahead.

"I won't conceal from you the gravity of the problems which we now face," he told the Labour conference.

"Today, as we approach another testing time in the political process, I want to rededicate this government to the goal of lasting peace in Northern Ireland, based on a political settlement that which has the consent of all the people."

He said that despite the criticisms of opponents, the Good Friday Agreement remained "the best hope for future generations".

Reid pledged "endless patience and endurance" in his commitment to the agreement.

The Northern Ireland secretary reminded Blackpool delegates that the Troubles had left 3500 people dead.

Every third person in Ulster had a personal experience of a loved one being killed or injured, he said.

Whilst he believed that Republicans were committed to peaceful means, Reid said the time had come for them to convince unionists of their determination.

"You have to complete your journey to democracy," he warned.

His comments were echoed by the prime minister who told reporters that the vast majority of people would choose 2002 over 1992.

Blair repeated Bill Clinton's call for people living in Northern Ireland not to "take their eyes off the prize".

The prime minister also slammed the decision by a Tory MP to support the Democratic Unionists.

"If we go down the Ian Paisley path in Northern Ireland then the result of that will be that we break up everything that has been gained over the last few years."

Dr Reid used his Blackpool contribution to condemn a fresh wave of punishment attacks linked to the IRA and said it was time for Sinn Fein to convince the sceptics of their motives.

"You cannot continue to ride two horses at once. Especially if the two horses are as far apart as violence and democracy," he said.

"If you want your partnership with unionists to be sustained, then you need to convince them, to reassure them. The new way, the Good Friday Agreement, remains the best hope for future generations in Northern Ireland."

He also warned unionists that they had to offer reassurance to nationalists.

The minister said unionists remained committed to the principle of power sharing, despite David Trimble's threat to withdraw from the devolved executive.

Reid also argued that the beliefs of the Labour Party were those that would bring peace to Northern Ireland - pointing to a commitment to equality and human rights.

"Those are the rights of every single member of the United Kingdom, whether they feel British, Scottish, English, Welsh or Irish," he observed.

In Northern Ireland as in the Labour Party "values and modernisation go together", he said.

Reid argued that Labour had moved on from the time when "cliched dogma was passed off as ideology" and was implementing a radical vision across the UK.

He told the party faithful that history could conclude that the Labour government had "played a role in changing our country and our world".

"If we can do that, then for my part I will feel that all the years I have spent in politics will have been worth it for just that one thing," said the cabinet minister.