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Ian Paisley to step down as Northern Ireland first minister

04/03/2008

Ian Paisley has announced that he will step down as Northern Ireland first minister and leader of the Democratic Unionist Party in May.

The 81-year-old confirmed he will remain as an MP and Assembly member following his resignation.

His last act as first minister will be at the investment conference in Belfast, organised by the Stormont power-sharing executive, in May.

"I came to this decision a few weeks ago when I was thinking very much about the conference and what was going to come after the conference," Mr Paisley said today.

"I thought that it is a marker, a very big marker and it would be a very appropriate time for me to bow out."

His current deputy Peter Robinson is expected to succeed him as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, although Mr Paisley said it was up to the party to decide.

"This is not Apostolic succession and I have no right to say who will succeed me," he said.

"Whoever that will be will have my support and encouragement and if he wants to take my advice, he will get my advice if he asks for it, but I will not be sitting like Putin in Russia saying to the president 'This is the way you have to go'."

"When I make a break, it is a break," he explained.

Deputy first minister Martin McGuinness praised Mr Paisley for his role in the formation of a power-sharing government in Northern Ireland.

"This historic decision he took to go into government with Sinn Fein has changed the course of Irish history for ever," said Mr McGuinness.

Mr Paisley has been leader of the Democratic Unionist Party for almost 40 years and took the post of first minister in May 2007.