Northern Ireland first minister steps down amid impasse

Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson has said he is stepping aside because of an impasse that threatens to bring down the Catholic-Protestant power-sharing government.
Robinson said today that all but one of his party's ministers will step down immediately, gravely weakening the coalition government that is a cornerstone of the 1998 peace agreement.
He said he was leaving Arlene Foster in place as a temporary first minister and finance minister to prevent other parties from taking advantage of the situation.
Robinson said crisis talks with the government will continue.