The leader of Northern Ireland's largest unionist party, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, has stepped down, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) says, after he was charged over "historical" allegations.
Mr Donaldson, 61, is one of the British region's best-known politicians and is Northern Ireland's longest-serving member in the British parliament, to which he was first elected in 1997.
"The party chairman has received a letter from Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP confirming that he has been charged with 'allegations of an historical nature' and indicating that he is stepping down as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party with immediate effect," the DUP said in a statement on Friday.
"In accordance with the party rules, the party officers have suspended Mr Donaldson from membership, pending the outcome of a judicial process."
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said earlier on Friday that detectives had arrested and charged a 61-year-old man for "non-recent sexual offences".
A 57-year-old woman was also arrested and charged at the time "for aiding and abetting additional offences". Both are due to appear in court on April 24, police said.
In response to questions from Reuters, the DUP and the police gave no details about the identities of either individual or the victim.
They also declined to disclose what the charges were and what triggered the arrests.
A source close to the case told Reuters that the male suspect was Mr Donaldson but Reuters was unable to directly verify that. Mr Donaldson did not respond to Reuters requests for comment.
According to the BBC, Mr Donaldson was charged with rape and other historical sexual offences. He will be strenuously contesting the charges, the British broadcaster reported.
DUP interim leader Gavin Robinson said the party became aware of the allegations late on Thursday after reports that "an individual and another had been charged and it became clear to us who that individual was".
"It's been a devastating revelation and has caused tremendous shock not just for myself, personally, or my colleagues within the DUP, but for the community right across Northern Ireland," he said.
As a member of the British parliament, Mr Donaldson does not hold a position in the Northern Irish power-sharing government, a key part of the region's 1998 peace settlement that only resumed last month following a two-year suspension.
Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill, whose Irish nationalist Sinn Fein party is obliged to share power with the DUP under the peace deal, said the power-sharing government was focused on delivering its policy objectives.
"My priority is to continue to provide the leadership the public expect and deserve, and to ensure the four-party executive coalition delivers for the whole of our community now and in the future," she said in a statement.
The DUP's Mr Robinson said his party's focus would also be on making sure power-sharing works in the coming months and years.
Reuters
