Mr Adams polled almost 23,000 votes

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has retained his West Belfast seat.

Mr Adams polled 22,840 votes with the SDLP's Alex Attwood finishing second with 5,261.

William Humphrey of the DUP polled 2,436 votes and Ulster Conservative and Unionists - New Force's William Manwaring, 1,000.

Maire Hendron of the Alliance Party secured 596 votes.

Mr Adams, who first won the west Belfast seat in 1983, gained a 71% share of the vote in the constituency.

However, his personal vote dropped from 24,348 in the 2005 general election.

"This renewed mandate is about the future, it's about continuing the work that we have to do," Mr Adams said.

"It's about building the peace, it's about building equality, it's about building jobs.

"But it's also about building Irish unity about uniting Orange and Green."

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