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Belfast: Evangelist Ian Paisley, who long personified Protestant resistance to Irish nationalism in Northern Ireland, has announced he will step down as head of the territory's power-sharing government and leader of his political party.
Paisley has faced increasing opposition from hard-liners within his Democratic Unionist Party over his dramatic U-turn to work with Catholics. The decision was blamed for the party's loss in a January by-election, and his leadership was further undermined by his son's ethical lapses.
Paisley, who made the announcement Tuesday, said weeks of mounting pressure from within his party prompted him to stand aside. He said he will resign in May, after an investment conference in Belfast organised by the power-sharing executive of the British territory.
He said, "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," 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."
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he admired the leadership Paisley had shown as first minister.
Brown said, "Progress on bringing a lasting peace to Northern Ireland would not have been possible without his immense courage and leadership."
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