Ian Paisley has vowed to press the British government for "constructive change" in Northern Ireland.

Following a meeting with Paul Murphy, the DUP leader demanded a fundamental review of the Good Friday Agreement.

The meeting had been "a positive discussion" which made clear the DUP's commitment to implementing his election pledges, Paisley said.

"The people we represent have voted for constructive change," he argued.

"We want to meet with the prime minister to ensure that he understands our position and respects the positive agenda we are pursuing."

The hardline unionist said he wanted to address "all of the flaws of the old agreement" and "raise all of the concerns" of the unionist community over coming weeks.

The comments came following crisis talks in the wake of the stalemate election in Northern Ireland.

On Monday Gerry Adams called for the rapid restoration of the devolved institutions.

The DUP is resisting any moves to return to the power-sharing executive and is pressing for a total renegotiation of the Good Friday Agreement.

The party, which topped last week's election by taking 30 of the 109 seats, said the outcome of the election represented the "final nail in the coffin" for the deal.

Ministers are being warned that they cannot simply return to the suspension option following last Wednesday's election.

Sinn Fein chief Gerry Adams delivered an uncompromising speech to his new MLAs - calling for the immediate restoration of the assembly and power-sharing government.

"The DUP can refuse to participate if they wish in the political institutions, that is for them to decide, but they cannot veto the other elements of the agreement," he said.

"It is therefore up to Mr Blair, along with the Taoiseach, to proceed with their commitments on policing, the criminal justice system, demilitarisation, the equality agenda, human rights, the Irish language and other matters, including OTRs."

Adams went on to call for immediate moves to restore devolution.

"We also determined to see the Agreement implemented, and a new dispensation of peace and justice on this island. There can be no renegotiation of the Good Friday Agreement," he said.

"That is our position and we make no bones about it. The principles, structures and obligations of that Agreement cannot and will not be subverted."

Republicans are set to use meetings with both the British and Irish governments to press for commitments on human rights, equality, policing, justice and demilitarisation.

Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble is also holding a series of meetings where he is facing down resignation demands.

Rebel unionist Jeffrey Donaldson used the first meeting of the party's new MLAs to call on Trimble to quit.

But Trimble has remained upbeat insisting he had "a good meeting" with his assembly colleagues.

Despite the deadlock Murphy said he hoped a breakthrough could be found.

"Northern Ireland can only be governed by an accommodation between nationalists and unionists, and that accommodation over the last five or six years has been hugely successful," he said.

"I am not underestimating the difficulties, but I am not unhopeful that we can make progress."

Privately, however, British officials concede the outcome of the election has made it nearly impossible to reach an early settlement.

They admit that suspension is likely to remain for several months, with some suggesting the peace process is likely to be put on hold for well over 12 months.

Meanwhile Murphy also met with the members of the Independent Monitoring Commission, which will examine whether paramilitary groups stick to their ceasefire agreements.

In a bid to reassure sceptical unionists he said the commission would "play a crucial role as guarantors of the good faith of all those involved in making progress in Northern Ireland"."The commission has already been working hard to establish its methods and legislation has already passed through parliament. Parallel legislation will soon come before the Irish parliament and we expect that the Independent Monitoring Commission will be fully operational early in the New Year," he said.