Gerry Adams has called on rival parties in Northern Ireland to "recognise their responsibilities".

The Sinn Fein president revealed on Sunday that he had been in contact with both the British and Irish governments in recent days in a bid to kick-start "intensive efforts to get the peace process back on track" following the UK general election.

The republican chief saw Sinn Fein make progress in the poll following his call for the IRA to give its "armed struggle".

And he said other parties, including the unionist DUP, must now match the move with initiatives of their own.

"In last December's talks the DUP moved to accept the Good Friday agreement and the principle of power-sharing," he said.

"So now their participation is a matter of timing. I am not naive about all of this. I know that even if the political institutions are restored the effort to bring about equality will continue to be a battle a day for some time to come. Unionism comes to the process of change reluctantly. But these are difficulties that can be overcome. None of this is impossible.

"However, if the DUP believe that progress can be put off for a generation they are wrong. The two governments have a duty to move ahead with the implementation of the agreement. People will not wait for another generation for basic human rights and entitlements. Nor should they be asked to.

"The British and Irish governments need to acknowledge that they too have responsibilities. They have contributed to the stagnation which exists in the process. They too have an active role to play if this opportunity is to succeed.

"Sinn Fein is ready to do business. We have received a renewed mandate from the electorate to pursue our initiative. We are the largest pro-agreement party and the largest nationalist party in the six counties. We take this responsibility very seriously. We know that nationalists, across the island, are looking to us to play our part.

"In recent days I have spoken with the British and Irish governments and have urged them to get back to the task of rebuilding the peace process as quickly as possible. I believe that the coming months will open up a huge opportunity and if it is to succeed it will require even more determination and effort than any other time over the last decade."

Direction

New Northern Ireland secretary Peter Hain said on Sunday that all parties must now accept the 1998 Good Friday agreement as the only way to make progress on restoring devolution.

"From the discussions I have had already, and time will tell of course, I think we can do that and we can move the peace process forward and we can get a permanent settlement and the institutions up and running," he told the BBC.

"Really there is no other direction for Northern Ireland to go in. There can't be a reverse gear on this peace process."

However he stopped short of saying the IRA must first disband.

"[UUP leader] David Trimble has made that demand - let's see what happens in the next few months," he said.

"I don't think we should pick on particular phrases and latch onto those and make those the be all and end all.

"What is important is that there is no criminality and no paramilitary activity from whatever source in Northern Ireland politics anymore.

"If we can achieve that and a clear road forward on that, then I think everybody will be willing to talk about participation and shared government."