London and Dublin are standing firm by the Good Friday Agreement, despite election results in Northern Ireland that pose all sorts of problems for the province's peace process. Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair and his Irish counterpart Bertie Ahern have much to reflect upon in the wake of the ballot which saw the hardline Unionist DUP - staunch opponents of the agreement - become the biggest party with 30 seats. On the other side of the sectarian divide, the IRA's political ally Sinn Fein also made significant gains. But the DUP's leader, Ian Paisley, refuses to talk to - let alone share power with - Sinn Fein. He brands its leaders "murderers." It all means any hopes of a swift return to power-sharing in Northen Ireland have been shattered. Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams supports the Good Friday deal. "In terms of Dr Paisley or Mr Paisley refusing to talk with me, it is a strange type of politics and if I may say so, because he is also the leader of a church, a strange type of Christianity, that refuses to converse with the neighbour, which refuses to talk to sinners," he said. The ballot has dealt a blow to moderate Unionist chief David Trimble and prompted speculation of a challenge to his leadership. Talks meanwhile were due to start between Britain's Northern Ireland minister and the province's main political parties in the hope that some sort of solution can be found. **PHOTO CAPTION*** Ian Paisley, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, after topping the poll in the North Antrim count at Ballymoney in the Northern Ireland elections, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2003. (AP Photo/Michael Cooper/PA)