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Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt is to resign Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt is to resign
(35 minutes later)
Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt is to resign - the first major casualty of the Northern Ireland Assembly election.Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt is to resign - the first major casualty of the Northern Ireland Assembly election.
"The buck stops here," he said, announcing his decision as the count continued and shortly after he won his seat at the Strangford count."The buck stops here," he said, announcing his decision as the count continued and shortly after he won his seat at the Strangford count.
Sinn Féin has increased its vote in the poll, while the DUP has largely held its place.Sinn Féin has increased its vote in the poll, while the DUP has largely held its place.
So far 76 out of 90 seats have been confirmed. So far 84 out of 90 seats have been confirmed.
The turnout for the election is the highest since the vote which followed the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.The turnout for the election is the highest since the vote which followed the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.
A total of 64.8% of the electorate voted - up 10 points on last year - beating the 2003 figure by 0.8%.A total of 64.8% of the electorate voted - up 10 points on last year - beating the 2003 figure by 0.8%.
Mr Nesbitt said the electorate had rejected his message and he had to take responsibility for what happened.Mr Nesbitt said the electorate had rejected his message and he had to take responsibility for what happened.
Mike Nesbitt resignation analysis - BBC News NI's Political Correspondent Gareth GordonMike Nesbitt resignation analysis - BBC News NI's Political Correspondent Gareth Gordon
Mike Nesbitt became Ulster Unionist leader nearly five years ago saying: "I want this party to wake up with a sense of purpose."Mike Nesbitt became Ulster Unionist leader nearly five years ago saying: "I want this party to wake up with a sense of purpose."
Tomorrow its members will wake up wondering who on earth is going to follow the former TV broadcaster into a job which is fast becoming mission impossible.Tomorrow its members will wake up wondering who on earth is going to follow the former TV broadcaster into a job which is fast becoming mission impossible.
Read more of Gareth's analysis here.Read more of Gareth's analysis here.
The Ulster Unionist leader is among seven party leaders to be returned. The others are First Minister and DUP leader Arlene Foster; Sinn Féin's northern leader Michelle O'Neill; Alliance Party leader Naomi Long; SDLP leader Colum Eastwood; TUV leader Jim Allister and Green Party leader Steven Agnew. The Ulster Unionist leader is among seven party leaders to be returned.
The others are First Minister and DUP leader Arlene Foster; Sinn Féin's northern leader Michelle O'Neill; Alliance Party leader Naomi Long; SDLP leader Colum Eastwood; TUV leader Jim Allister and Green Party leader Steven Agnew.
DUP leader Arlene Foster declined several interview requests from the BBC. However, in her acceptance speech, she said the run-up to the election had been "challenging", but the focus was the future.DUP leader Arlene Foster declined several interview requests from the BBC. However, in her acceptance speech, she said the run-up to the election had been "challenging", but the focus was the future.
"Let us move forward with hope that the common good will be able to prevail over narrow divides of interest; hope that civility can return to our politics; hope that a functioning assembly can be restored and hope that a Northern Ireland with so many overlapping cultural identities can be home to all of us," she said."Let us move forward with hope that the common good will be able to prevail over narrow divides of interest; hope that civility can return to our politics; hope that a functioning assembly can be restored and hope that a Northern Ireland with so many overlapping cultural identities can be home to all of us," she said.
Four former ministers - two from the DUP, one from the SDLP and one from the Ulster Unionist party - lost their seats.Four former ministers - two from the DUP, one from the SDLP and one from the Ulster Unionist party - lost their seats.
The first big shock of the day came when Alex Attwood, SDLP, lost his seat in Belfast West. The second was when Danny Kennedy, UUP, was eliminated in Newry & Armagh - he had been an assembly member since 1998.The first big shock of the day came when Alex Attwood, SDLP, lost his seat in Belfast West. The second was when Danny Kennedy, UUP, was eliminated in Newry & Armagh - he had been an assembly member since 1998.
Later, DUP stalwart Nelson McCausland lost his seat in Belfast North and his party chairman Lord Morrow lost his seat in Fermanagh and South Tyrone.Later, DUP stalwart Nelson McCausland lost his seat in Belfast North and his party chairman Lord Morrow lost his seat in Fermanagh and South Tyrone.
The SDLP suffered a body blow in Foyle - the traditional heartland of the party and former seat of its founder John Hume. Sinn Féin came home first and second in the count, leaving the SDLP leader Colum Eastwood and Mark H Durkan trailing in their wake. The SDLP suffered a body blow in Foyle - the traditional heartland of the party and former seat of its founder John Hume.
Sinn Féin came home first and second in the count, leaving the SDLP leader Colum Eastwood and Mark H Durkan trailing in their wake.
The party, which once held sway in west Belfast, no longer has a presence there after Mr Attwood's defeat.The party, which once held sway in west Belfast, no longer has a presence there after Mr Attwood's defeat.
The election - the second in 10 months - was called after the collapse of a coalition led by Arlene Foster's DUP and Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness.The election - the second in 10 months - was called after the collapse of a coalition led by Arlene Foster's DUP and Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness.
Mr McGuinness resigned over Mrs Foster's refusal to step aside as first minister pending an inquiry into the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme, which could cost the Northern Ireland tax payer £490m.Mr McGuinness resigned over Mrs Foster's refusal to step aside as first minister pending an inquiry into the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme, which could cost the Northern Ireland tax payer £490m.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said Sinn Féin were the "net beneficiaries" of a huge nationalist turnout intent on punishing Mrs Foster.SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said Sinn Féin were the "net beneficiaries" of a huge nationalist turnout intent on punishing Mrs Foster.
Former DUP Minister Jonathan Bell who was suspended from the party for allegedly speaking to the press without permission over the RHI scandal, has also lost his seat.Former DUP Minister Jonathan Bell who was suspended from the party for allegedly speaking to the press without permission over the RHI scandal, has also lost his seat.
Under Northern Ireland's power-sharing agreement, the government must be run by Irish nationalists and unionists together.Under Northern Ireland's power-sharing agreement, the government must be run by Irish nationalists and unionists together.
NI Assembly election live page
A total of 1,254,709 people were eligible to vote for 228 candidates competing for 90 seats in 18 constituencies. The turnout was up across the board.A total of 1,254,709 people were eligible to vote for 228 candidates competing for 90 seats in 18 constituencies. The turnout was up across the board.
Among the smaller parties, Gerry Carroll, People Before Profit Alliance, kept his Belfast West seat. However, his running mate Michael Collins was eliminated on the first count.Among the smaller parties, Gerry Carroll, People Before Profit Alliance, kept his Belfast West seat. However, his running mate Michael Collins was eliminated on the first count.
This assembly election saw one significant change: The number of assembly members has been reduced from 108 to 90 which will mean each constituency returning five MLAs each and not six,
The number of MLAs has been cut in order to reduce the cost of politics. Forty-eight fewer candidates stood in this election than in May last year.
The largest unionist and nationalist parties after the election will have three weeks to form a power-sharing government to avoid devolved power returning to the British parliament at Westminster for the first time in a decade.The largest unionist and nationalist parties after the election will have three weeks to form a power-sharing government to avoid devolved power returning to the British parliament at Westminster for the first time in a decade.
The BBC News NI website will carry the latest election results and analysis on Friday and throughout the weekend.The BBC News NI website will carry the latest election results and analysis on Friday and throughout the weekend.
There will also be special election programmes running on BBC Radio Ulster from midday, on BBC Radio Foyle from 15:00 GMT and on BBC One Northern Ireland at 13:30 GMT.There will also be special election programmes running on BBC Radio Ulster from midday, on BBC Radio Foyle from 15:00 GMT and on BBC One Northern Ireland at 13:30 GMT.