The Northern Ireland secretary has warned that he may halt the restoration of devolution following this month's election.

Paul Murphy said he could maintain direct rule as a way of buying more time for the embattled peace process.

He said the government wanted to avoid having to hold a completely new set of elections after the vote on November 26.

This would happen under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement if the parties fail to agree to form a government.

"The assembly remains technically suspended even though it is newly elected, until I have restored it," he said."I'm not sure that two elections together is the most popular thing to do. In the end, if may have to be done.

"The provisions are there but that's certainly not the ideal. It would be much better to go back and resolve the difference and form the Executive.

Murphy has been locked in intensive negotiations with unionists and republicans to get the peace process back on track.

Last month's attempt to get progress, which included a fresh act of decommissioning by the IRA, failed to convince unionists.

The health secretary warned that having to rely on a fudge to achieve results would be less than convincing.

He also warned that a review of the Good Friday Agreement, due by the end of the year, might overtake current events.

"Since, after the election, there are not many weeks left before the end of the year, we will have to begin the review directly after the election," he said.