The DUP has a duty act responsibly following last week's election in Northern Ireland, the prime minister has said.

Tony Blair admitted that negotiating a settlement would prove "more difficult" following the advance of the Rev Ian Paisley's hardliners.

"With power also comes responsibility and they have got a responsibility now to people in Northern Ireland to make this process work and I hope they live up to that responsibility," said Blair.

Privately British sources are downbeat about the prospects for the Good Friday Agreement.

They suggest that the peace process is likely to be put on ice for many months following an increase in the number of DUP and Sinn Fein representatives at Stormont.

Following success for hardline parties, Blair conceded that achieving a settlement would prove a tough task.

"It's a more difficult situation, yes, but it's one that we have to manage," he said. "We are used to dealing with difficult situations in Northern Ireland."

Blair confirmed that he would meet with key players from the province in the next three weeks.

"The DUP met Paul Murphy and I imagine I will meet them sometime before Christmas," he said.

"And we will carry on working with the UUP, the SDLP and Sinn Fein as well and let's see if we can find a way through."

Blair added that the "majority of people in Northern Ireland do want to see devolved government up and running again".

"The question is on what terms and that is what we have to establish and I hope we can," he said.

And he emphasised the progress that had been made in Ulster in recent years.

"There is no sense that the political problem which we are resolving is going to lead to a security crisis," he said.