Mr Blair rejected the suggestion he had damaged NI's centre ground

Mr Blair said he could not make people move forward but if there was a complete end to IRA violence then he believed the DUP would share power.

The DUP won nine seats in the general election while Sinn Fein came second with five seats.

Its links with the IRA have scuppered the chances of unionists forming a coalition with republicans.

During the election campaign, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams asked the IRA to stand aside for a purely political way forward.

Last month the IRA said it was considering the appeal and is expected to give its response in the coming weeks.

Side deals

Speaking during his first news conference since the election, Mr Blair paid tribute to the outgoing UUP leader, David Trimble, who lost his seat in Upper Bann.

But he rejected suggestions from Mr Trimble and SDLP veteran Seamus Mallon, that he had destroyed the centre ground in Northern Ireland politics with side deals.

Mr Blair and his Ministers should start to tell it like it is. They still refuse to use the word disbandment in connection with the IRA David Lidington

He said of Mr Mallon: "He knows perfectly well that I used to sit in my room and say to him 'Are you prepared to go ahead without Sinn Fein?

"'Because if they're not prepared to give up violence, in the republican movement, the moderate centre can only move forward, if you're prepared to move forward with the UUP.'

"But I have got to say to you, he never was willing to say that."

Meanwhile, new NI Secretary of State Peter Hain has said he will only be happy if he can use his new job to achieve progress.

No 'reverse gear'

Mr Hain said he was happy with his preliminary discussions with the Northern Ireland parties but was not prepared to discard the Good Friday Agreement.

He told the Press Association on Thursday: "I understand both where the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Fein are coming from but that's not the end of the story.

I think everybody realises that there is no reverse gear on this process Peter Hain, Secretary of State

"I think both parties know that that is not the end of the story.

"Certainly in my preliminary discussions with them, very good discussions, I think everybody realises that there is no reverse gear on this process.

"It's what forward gear you take. Do you stay in neutral or select a forward gear?"

Earlier the Shadow Secretary of State, David Lidington, said Mr Blair needed to use more forceful language with regard to the IRA.

He said: "Mr Blair and his ministers should start to tell it like it is.