DUP leader Peter Robinson has insisted that talks are not over yet, despite initial expectations that a deal on the devolution of policing and justice and parades could be sealed on Monday.
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Negotiations continue
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'Not there yet' - Ken Reid
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'Turmoil' - Eamonn Mallie
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'Buying time' - David Gordon
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More talks needed- DUP
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Analysis: Selling the deal
After at least four hours of internal discussions with his assembly group, the DUP leader said the party needed more time.
Read Ken Reid's blog: Groundhog Day
"The group has identified, because the negotiations have not been completed, some issues that have to be resolved and items about which they need to be satisfied," Mr Robinson said.
Flanked by senior party colleagues including the former party leader Rev Ian Paisley Snr and Gregory Campbell, Mr Robinson indicated his party wanted to see the devolved political institutions continue.
He said he would meet representatives from the British and Irish Governments on Monday night, as well as members of the other political parties.
"We are determined to make these institutions work", he said.
"The process is one that we have committed ourselves to as a political party".
While the party's MLAs were locked in lengthy internal discussions for a large part of the day, Sinn Fein's meeting to brief its members on progress lasted just over 90 minutes on Monday morning.
The party's junior minister Gerry Kelly insisted that an agreement was still within reach.
"We are confident we can make the deal," the senior republican said at Parliament Buildings.
"There are a few issues which need to be sorted out."
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Irish Taoiseach Brian Cowen had been prepared to fly to Belfast to show their support should a deal be reached on Monday.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband even let slip that Mr Brown had postponed a visit to Northern Ireland.
"He is keeping a close eye on progress in Northern Ireland on the talks and he remains optimistic that a deal can be done," a Downing Street spokeswoman said.
The latest developments came after a weekend when hopes of a breakthrough rose.
Both the DUP and Sinn Fein said significant progress was made last week during a marathon 100 hours of negotiations at Hillsborough.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Irish Taoiseach Brian Cowen launched the Hillsborough talks last Monday and later threatened to publish their own proposals to break the deadlock.
They want the two sides to agree a process to transfer policing powers from London to Belfast by the start of May.
The other key sticking point is a DUP demand for the abolition of the Parades Commission, which adjudicates on contentious marches.
The negotiations were adjourned on Saturday night with all parties sounding more positive, 24 hours after a Friday deadline set by the British and Irish governments passed without a deal.
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