BELFAST (Reuters) - Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness, a key figure throughout five decades of conflict and peace in Northern Ireland, said on Thursday he was bowing out of politics and would not lead his nationalist party into elections in March. “Unfortunately, I am not physically able to continue in my current role and have therefore decided to make way for a new leader.”

Mr McGuinness said that as a Sinn Féin activist he would continue to “play a full and enthusiastic part in that essential process of building bridges, of dialogue and of reconciliation between our still divided people”. “It remains my own personal and political ambition to break the link with Britain and to unite all who share this island under the common banner of Irish men and women.”

Among the first to react to the news was Sinn Fein colleague Gerry Adams.
Sinn Féin politician Martin McGuinness retires from politics for health reasons.