Belfast returned two DUP MPs, one Sinn Fein MP and one Ulster Unionist MP to Westminster. The biggest surprises of the day were the huge margin by which the DUP's Mr Nigel Dodds beat outgoing Ulster Unionist MP Mr Cecil Walker in North Belfast and the increase in Sinn Fein president Mr Gerry Adams's lead over the SDLP in West Belfast.
The DUP was in jubilant mood after winning two of the four Belfast seats. Mr Dodds, the winner in North Belfast, the most closely contested of them, described his victory as "one in the eye for Mr Trimble".
Pledging to work on behalf of all his constituents, the DUP MP added: "This election was not won in the last three weeks but over years of hard work.
"It is a victory for those who want fair, accountable and decent government in Northern Ireland, and who don't want to share power with gunmen. It is one in the eye for the pan-nationalist front and for Mr Trimble."
Sinn Fein's Mr Gerry Kelly won the nationalist battle in North Belfast by outpolling the SDLP's Mr Alban Maginness by 1,800 votes.
The DUP winner in East Belfast, Mr Peter Robinson, who retained his seat with an overwhelming majority, called on unionist politicians of all shades to unite around a common policy.
"The unionist people have delivered their verdict. All unionists should recognise that verdict, bind together the wounds and fight on a common policy in which we can be united and moving forward together."
His closest contender, the UUP's Mr Tim Lemon, insisted that the various pro-Belfast Agreement parties in the constituency had actually polled a majority of the vote. "We lost the seat, we didn't lose the argument. The fight goes on."
In West Belfast, the vote for the SDLP's runner-up, Mr Alex Attwood, dropped by 10,000. The winner in the constituency, Mr Adams, said he would work to represent all of his constituents, particularly the marginalised, the elderly and the young. "We have a big job of continuing with the peace process. We have to make sure the Good Friday agreement works," he added.
The winner in South Belfast, the UUP's the Rev Martin Smyth, who belongs to the anti-agreement faction in the party, expressed his delight at having retained the seat with an increased majority. The SDLP candidate, Dr Alasdair McDonnell, polled over 5,000 votes less.