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| Paisley to quit as first minister | Paisley to quit as first minister |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Northern Ireland's first minister Ian Paisley is to stand down from the post in May, he has announced. | |
| He also said he would be resigning as leader of the DUP, a party he has led for almost 40 years. He will continue as MP and MLA for North Antrim. | He also said he would be resigning as leader of the DUP, a party he has led for almost 40 years. He will continue as MP and MLA for North Antrim. |
| Mr Paisley, who will be 82 in April, became first minister in May 2007 following the suspension of direct rule after a period of five years. | Mr Paisley, who will be 82 in April, became first minister in May 2007 following the suspension of direct rule after a period of five years. |
| Peter Robinson, the party's deputy leader, is expected to take his place. | Peter Robinson, the party's deputy leader, is expected to take his place. |
| "Unionists are no longer protesting against a London/Dublin deal with which we have no truck," Mr Paisley said. | "Unionists are no longer protesting against a London/Dublin deal with which we have no truck," Mr Paisley said. |
| "We are inside the building administering British rule over Northern Ireland." | "We are inside the building administering British rule over Northern Ireland." |
| Mr Paisley stood down as moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church in January amid concerns about his duel role as the church's leader and first minister. | Mr Paisley stood down as moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church in January amid concerns about his duel role as the church's leader and first minister. |
| "I came to this decision a few weeks ago when I was thinking very much about the forthcoming investment conference and what was going to come after the conference," he said. | "I came to this decision a few weeks ago when I was thinking very much about the forthcoming investment conference and what was going to come after the conference," he said. |
| "I thought that it is a marker, a very big marker and it would be a very appropriate time for me to bow out." | "I thought that it is a marker, a very big marker and it would be a very appropriate time for me to bow out." |
| New leaderHAVE YOUR SAY Whether or not you agree with Paisley, there is an honesty that marks him out Phil Dee, WalesSend us your comments | New leaderHAVE YOUR SAY Whether or not you agree with Paisley, there is an honesty that marks him out Phil Dee, WalesSend us your comments |
| While it is expected that his current deputy Peter Robinson will succeed him as party leader, Mr Paisley said it was up to the DUP to make the decision. | While it is expected that his current deputy Peter Robinson will succeed him as party leader, Mr Paisley said it was up to the DUP to make the decision. |
| "This is not Apostolic succession and I have no right to say who will succeed me," he said. | "This is not Apostolic succession and I have no right to say who will succeed me," he said. |
| "The person will succeed me when the mark is on the paper and the ballot is cast." | "The person will succeed me when the mark is on the paper and the ballot is cast." |
| Mr Paisley's announcement followed speculation that senior party members were unhappy about the appointment of his son, Ian Paisley Jnr, to the Policing Board. | Mr Paisley's announcement followed speculation that senior party members were unhappy about the appointment of his son, Ian Paisley Jnr, to the Policing Board. |
| Last month, Mr Paisley Jnr resigned as a junior minister in the Northern Ireland Executive. | Last month, Mr Paisley Jnr resigned as a junior minister in the Northern Ireland Executive. |
| His resignation followed criticism over his links to developer Seymour Sweeney and controversy over lobbying activity. | His resignation followed criticism over his links to developer Seymour Sweeney and controversy over lobbying activity. |
| However, Mr Paisley said the recent controversy had nothing to do with his decision to step aside. | However, Mr Paisley said the recent controversy had nothing to do with his decision to step aside. |
| "I never even considered it. I felt that my son was very badly treated," he added. | "I never even considered it. I felt that my son was very badly treated," he added. |
| "I am not a fool, people who thought that they could get at me, got at him. | "I am not a fool, people who thought that they could get at me, got at him. |
| "They thought they could damage me by the damage they sought to take out on him, but that did not move me." | "They thought they could damage me by the damage they sought to take out on him, but that did not move me." |
| 'Not unexpected' | 'Not unexpected' |
| Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said his ministerial colleague's move was not unexpected. | Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said his ministerial colleague's move was not unexpected. |
| "The historic decision he took to go into government with Sinn Fein has changed the face of Irish politics forever," he said. | "The historic decision he took to go into government with Sinn Fein has changed the face of Irish politics forever," he said. |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Mr Paisley had made a huge contribution to political life in Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Mr Paisley had made a huge contribution to political life in Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom. |
| "The whole country values and admires the manner in which he has led as first minister," he said. | "The whole country values and admires the manner in which he has led as first minister," he said. |
| Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said he did not believe Mr Paisley's decision would affect the future of the power-sharing government. | Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said he did not believe Mr Paisley's decision would affect the future of the power-sharing government. |
| "I honestly believe that (devolution) will last because I believe there are very pragmatic people in all of the parties," he said. | "I honestly believe that (devolution) will last because I believe there are very pragmatic people in all of the parties," he said. |