Adams quits Westminster seat

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has resigned from his Westminster seat today.

The announcement came after Taoiseach Brian Cowen confirmed March 11 as the date for the upcoming General Election.

Mr Adams had already stepped down from his West Belfast seat in the Northern Assembly.

He had also pledged to resign as Westminster representative for the same constituency when a poll was confirmed south of the border.

A party spokesman said the process had now started and confirmed Mr Adams had written to Westminster to formally resign.

The Sinn Féin president will now stand for the Dáil in the border area of Louth.

Mr Adams’s move comes as his all-Ireland party hopes to make gains in the Republic.

He was replaced at the Assembly by former IRA hunger striker Pat Sheehan.

The party will now select a candidate to defend his west Belfast Westminster seat.

Sinn Féin refuses to take seats in the House of Commons, but Mr Adams hopes he will soon be sitting in the Dáil alongside party colleagues.