NORTHERN IRELAND FIRST MINISTER TO LEAVE POST IN JUNE

First Minister for Northern Ireland Arlene Foster will step down from her position at the end of June, according to a statement from her party, even as the region reels from weeks of political discord and violence, Isobel Frodsham reported for Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa).

The announcement, which was published on the website of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) on Wednesday, confirmed she will remain in her role as leader of the party until May 28 and will depart as First Minister in June.

"It is important to give space over the next few weeks for the party officers to make arrangements for the election of a new leader," she said in the statement. "When elected I will work with the new leader on transition arrangements."

It comes after a difficult few months in the British-administered region, which has seen an outbreak of violence in recent weeks following citizens' anger at Brexit policy, as well as at the exoneration of politicians of a separate party after they broke coronavirus rules at a funeral.

Rumors have been swirling in the last 24 hours that Foster's tenure was hanging in the balance after reports stated there had been a letter of no confidence submitted against her leadership late on Tuesday.

Reporters at national Northern Irish broadcaster UTV claimed 16 complaints had been made about the leadership in a letter submitted to the DUP chairperson and chief executive on Tuesday.

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