Northern Ireland's devolved government is on the brink of collapse after the resignation of almost all of the ministers from one side of the cross-party administration.
First Minister Peter Robinson, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), stepped aside on Thursday along with all but one of his party allies, Reuters reported.
The DUP power-sharing deal with republican party Sinn Fein in Northern Ireland was a result of a 1998 peace agreement and helped bring an end to years of sectarian violence between Protestants and Catholics.
Robinson stepped down after allegations that members of nationalist paramilitary group the Irish Republican Army (IRA) killed former member Kevin McGuigan in Belfast in August.
Sinn Fein says the IRA has disbanded. Senior Sinn Fein member Bobby Storey was arrested in relation to the murder but released without charge on Thursday. Two other senior republicans were also arrested.
Robinson said: "The continued existence of the IRA and the arrests that followed has pushed devolution to the brink." He added that the fact that "a leading member" of Sinn Fein has been associated with the murder means "we cannot do business as usual."
British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Thursday that he was "gravely concerned about the situation" in Northern Ireland, according to Reuters.
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers, said she would attempt to reconvene cross-party talks between the DUP and Sinn Fein on Monday, saying the current situation was "very serious" but could be "retrieved," according to the BBC.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Conor is a staff writer for Newsweek covering Africa, with a focus on Nigeria, security and conflict.
