Flash: Election outcome is clear

Within a seat or so, the result of Wednesday's elections has
become clear as counts reached a conclusion across the Six
Counties.

The SDLP and the Ulster Unionists are in crisis after a poor
performance, particularly for the SDLP. Sinn Fein and Ian
Paisley's DUP have continued to make gains, with the DUP
pulling clear as the largest party.

Sinn Fein has vanquished their nationalist rivals to become
the clear voice of their community, winning six seats, while
the SDLP lost a similar number. One celebrated victory in
Paisley territory of north Antrim was that of Philip McGuigan
to counter the DUP's capture yesterday of a seat in West
Belfast.

Meanwhile, the Alliance has escaped predictions of doom, with
party leader David Ford holding off Sinn Fein's Martin Meehan
to retain his seat in South Antrim. Unfortunately, the
Women's Coalition appears to have reached the end of the line
as a political party. David Ervine and Robert McCartney
appear set to be the only representatives of their respective
parties, the PUP and UKUP. other anti-Agreement parties have
effectively been swallowed whole by the DUP.

Mr Ahern and the British prime minister, Mr Blair, met in
Cardiff today for around 45 minutes for talks which were
described as very productive by aides.

They are expected to meet with the North's parties early next
week.

"We now have to find the path ahead," the Taoiseach said
following the meeting. "The principles and the value of the
Good Friday Agreement do not change.

"This is an international agreement. It is not open for
re-negotiation. It is a registered international agreement.
People have decided that and they are not going to change
that. But it is open for review and that review will shortly
be put out for consultation once the elections are over."

Those who have done best in the elections "will carry most of
the responsibilities and the pressure" in finding the way
ahead, he added.

The DUP will come under pressure to find a way to escape the
apparent deadlock created by their success, and their
continuing refusal to talk to Sinn Fein.

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has said he will meet British
government officials tomorrow, to take stock of the Assembly
election results.

The following is the situation this evening:

Vote Share - Seats Achieved - Final Prediction

DUP 26% - 26 seats - 30 seats
SF 24% - 23 seats - 24 seats
UUP 23% - 24 seats - 26 seats
SDLP 17% - 16 seats - 19 seats
Alliance 4% - 4 seats - 6 seats
Ind. 3% - 1 seat - 1 seat
PUP 1% - 1 seat - 1 seat
UKUP 1% - 0 seat - 1 seat
NIWC 1% - 0 seat - 0 seat




South Belfast Lagan Valley Mid Ulster

Result: Result: Result:

* UUP 2 * UUP 3 * SF 3
* SDLP 2 * DUP 1 * DUP 1
* SF 1 * SDLP 1 * SDLP 1
* DUP 1 * Alliance 1 * UUP 1

Elected: Elected: Elected:

* McGimpsey * Donaldson * McCrea (DUP)
(UUP) (UUP) * McGuinness
* Birnie (UUP) * Poots (DUP) (SF)
* Robinson * Bell (UUP) * Molloy (SF)
(DUP) * Close * Dougan (SF)
* Maskey (SF) (Alliance) * McGlone
* Hanna (SDLP) * Lewsley (SDLP)
* McDonnell (SDLP) * Armstrong
(SDLP) * Beare (UUP) (UUP)




North Belfast South Antrim Fermanagh/
South Tyrone
Result: Result:
Result:
* DUP 2 * DUP 2
* SF 2 * UUP 2 * SF 2
* SDLP 1 * Alliance 1 * UUP 2
* UUP 1 * SDLP 1 * SDLP 1
* DUP 1
Elected: Elected:
Elected:
* Dodds (DUP) * Burnside
* Kelly (SF) (UUP) * Elliott (UUP)
* McCausland * Clyde (DUP) * Gildernew
(DUP) * Girvan (DUP) (SF)
* Cobain (UUP) * Wilson (UUP) * Morrow (DUP)
* Stanton (SF) * Burns (SDLP) * Gallagher
* Maginnis * >Ford (SDLP)
(SDLP) (Alliance) * Foster (UUP)
* O'Reilly (SF)





West Belfast Newry/Armagh East Belfast

Result: Result: Result:

* SF 4 * SF 3 * UUP 2
* SDLP 1 * SDLP 1 * DUP 2
* DUP 1 * UUP 1 * PUP 1
* DUP 1 * Alliance 1
Elected:
Elected: Elected:
* Adams (SF)
* Attwood * Berry (DUP) * Robinson
(SDLP) * Kennedy (UUP) (DUP)
* de Brun (SF) * Murphy (SF) * Empey (UUP)
* McCann (SF) * Hyland (SF) * Newton (DUP)
* Ferguson (SF) * O'Rawe (SF) * Copeland
* Dodds (DUP) * Bradley (UUP)
(SDLP) * Long
(Alliance)
* Ervine (PUP)
*




Foyle East Derry Upper Bann

Count 7: Result: Result:

* SDLP 3 * DUP 2 * UUP 2
* SF 2 * UUP 2 * DUP 2
* DUP 1 * SDLP 1 * SF 1
* SF 1 * SDLP 1
Elected:
Elected: Elected:
* Durkan (SDLP)
* Hay (DUP) * Campbell * Trimble (UUP)
* McLaughlin (DUP) * Simpson (DUP)
(SF) * McClarty * Moutray (DUP)
(UUP) * Gardiner
* Brolly (SF) (UUP)
* Hillis (UUP) * John O'Dowd
* Robinson (SF)
(DUP) * Kelly (SDLP)
* Dallat (SDLP)






North Down South Down East Antrim

Count 3: Result: Count 13:

* UUP 3? * SDLP 2 * DUP 3
* DUP 2? * SF 2 * UUP 2
* UKUP 1? * UUP 1 * Alliance 1
* Alliance 1 * DUP 1
Elected:
Elected: Elected:
* Beggs (UUP)
* Cree (UUP) * Wells (DUP) * Wilson (DUP)
* Bell * Bradley
(Alliance) (SDLP)
* Nesbitt (UUP)
* Ruane (SF)
* Clarke (SF)
* Ritchie
(SDLP)





Strangford West Tyrone North Antrim

Count 6: Result: Result:

* DUP 3 * SF 2 * DUP 3
* UUP 2? * Ind. 1 * UUP 1
* Alliance 1? * SDLP 1 * SF 1
* SDLP 1? * DUP 1 * SDLP 1
* UUP 1
Elected: Elected:
Elected:
* Robinson * Paisley Sr
(DUP) * Deeney (Ind) (DUP)
* Kilclooney * Doherty (SF) * Paisley Jr
(UUP) * Buchanan (DUP)
* Shannon (DUP) (DUP) * Coulter (UUP)
* Ennis (DUP) * Hussey (UUP) * Storey (DUP)
* McElduff (SF) * McGuigan (SF)
* McMenamin * Farren (SDLP)
(SDLP)