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NI first minister Peter Robinson steps down NI first minister Peter Robinson steps aside in Stormont crisis
(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.
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.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 an ex-IRA man's murder and a police assessment IRA members may have been involved. Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers said she would not suspend the assembly despite the DUP resignations.
Mr Robinson said the latest problems have "pushed devolution to the brink". The crisis was sparked by the murder of ex-IRA man Kevin McGuigan, last month.
The DUP took action after a police assessment IRA members may have been involved in the killing.
'Gatekeeper role'
Ms Villiers said on Thursday that the situation was "very grave" and Mr Robinson said the latest problems have "pushed devolution to the brink".
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, was released from police custody on Thursday evening.
Mr Robinson stepped aside from his role as first minister after Sinn Féin, the Ulster Unionists and the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) voted against a motion to adjourn the assembly.
With the exception of Mrs Foster, the DUP's ministers have all signed their letters of resignation.
Mr Robinson said he has "stepped aside but not technically resigned" and has asked Mrs Foster to play a "gatekeeper role".
'Immediate effect''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. "Arlene remaining in post allows us to ensure that no irrational financial decisions are taken by other parties in what might appear to be the last number of days of this assembly," he added.
The party's chairman in Northern Ireland, Bobby Storey, is still being questioned. "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," the DUP leader said.
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."
"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.
'Complete breakdown'
"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."
Ms Villiers said the DUP's actions were "a sign of a complete breakdown in the working relationships within the executive".
"There is an urgent need to get the parties together, find a way to repair those working relationships and address the two issues," she added.
Last month, Northern Ireland's police chief said the IRA still existed and that detectives believed some IRA members had a role in Mr McGuigan's murder.
But Chief Constable George Hamilton added the murder was not sanctioned by the IRA, which was committed to politics and not engaged in terrorism.
However, Sinn Féin's leadership has insisted that the IRA no longer exists and said the murder was being exploited by enemies of the peace process.