NIreland's Paisley to quit Parliament after 40 yrs

[March 02, 2010]  DUBLIN (AP) -- Ian Paisley, the hard-line Northern Ireland evangelist who led Protestants into power-sharing with Catholics, says he is retiring from British Parliament after a 40-year career.

The 83-year-old Paisley spent decades opposing compromise with minority Catholics. He did a stunning U-turn in 2007 by forging a Northern Ireland administration with former IRA commander Martin McGuinness.

Within a year Paisley stepped down as leader of the coalition, his Democratic Unionist Party and the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster, the anti-Catholic church he founded.

Paisley said Tuesday he won't seek re-election in North Antrim, the British parliamentary seat he has held since 1970.

His son, Ian Jr., is favorite to succeed him in an election expected in May.

[Associated Press]

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