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NI first minister steps down NI first minister Peter Robinson steps down
(35 minutes later)
Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson has stepped aside and other DUP ministers are to resign as a result of the political crisis at Stormont.Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson has stepped aside and other DUP ministers are to resign as a result of the political crisis at Stormont.
Mr Robinson said he has asked his party colleague Arlene Foster to take over as acting first minister. He has asked his party colleague Arlene Foster to take over as acting first minister, after the DUP failed to get enough support to adjourn the assembly.
The crisis was sparked by the murder of a former IRA man, Kevin McGuigan Sr, in Belfast last month. The crisis was sparked by an ex-IRA man's murder and a police assessment IRA members may have been involved.
The DUP took action following a police assessment that IRA members may have been involved in the killing. Mr Robinson said the latest problems have "pushed devolution to the brink".
The row escalated when detectives arrested a senior member of Sinn Féin as part of the murder inquiry. 'Immediate effect'
The murder of Kevin McGuigan Sr took place in Belfast last month but the political row escalated on Wednesday, when detectives arrested a senior member of Sinn Féin as part of the murder inquiry.
The party's chairman in Northern Ireland, Bobby Storey, is still being questioned.The party's chairman in Northern Ireland, Bobby Storey, is still being questioned.
The DUP leader stepped aside from his role as first minister on Thursday afternoon, after Sinn Féin, the Ulster Unionists and the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) voted against the adjournment motion.
Mr Robinson said he has "stepped aside but not technically resigned".
Mr Robinson said: "The failure of the SDLP and Sinn Féin to implement the Stormont House Agreement, together with the assessment of the chief constable of the involvement of the IRA in murder, the continued existence of IRA structures, and the arrests that followed has pushed devolution to the brink."Mr Robinson said: "The failure of the SDLP and Sinn Féin to implement the Stormont House Agreement, together with the assessment of the chief constable of the involvement of the IRA in murder, the continued existence of IRA structures, and the arrests that followed has pushed devolution to the brink."
"In light of the decision by republicans, nationalists and the Ulster Unionist Party to continue with business as usual in the assembly, I am therefore standing aside as first minister and other DUP ministers will resign with immediate effect with the exception of my colleague Arlene Foster."In light of the decision by republicans, nationalists and the Ulster Unionist Party to continue with business as usual in the assembly, I am therefore standing aside as first minister and other DUP ministers will resign with immediate effect with the exception of my colleague Arlene Foster.
"I have asked Arlene to remain in post as finance minister and acting first minister to ensure that nationalists and republicans are not able to take financial and other decisions that may be detrimental to Northern Ireland.""I have asked Arlene to remain in post as finance minister and acting first minister to ensure that nationalists and republicans are not able to take financial and other decisions that may be detrimental to Northern Ireland."