Peacemaker Hume steps from stage

His decision to stand down has left the Social Democratic and Labour Party in a state of limbo at a critical point for the Good Friday accord.

Mr Hume said he had been considering standing down "for some time" and cited health problems and the weight of his workload as his reasons for quitting the leadership after 23 years.

Seamus Mallon, the deputy First Minister in the Northern Ireland power-sharing executive, and Mark Durkan, the finance minister, emerged last night as the main contenders to succeed Mr Hume, 64.

The SDLP will be forced to choose a new leader amid a backdrop of fresh uncertainties about the future of the Good Friday accord.

The government is contemplating a third suspension of Northern Ireland’s devolved political institutions and cross-border bodies as the dispute over IRA decommissioning intensifies.

Mr Hume, who will continue as an MP and MEP, would not be drawn yesterday about whom he favours as his successor.

The MP for Foyle, the constituency that comprises the city of Londonderry, said the challenge facing the next leader would be to ensure the Good Friday Agreement was implemented "in all its aspects so we can build real politics, working together for our common interests - specifically economic".

He said he had contemplated for some time his decision to stand down.

"Obviously I had serious health problems for some time and it was quite clear that one of the reasons was that I had to reduce my workload which is very, very substantial.

"I thought long and hard about it and decided the time had come by this party conference to retire as leader," he said.

Mr Hume’s resignation comes at the start of a critical week for the peace process, with John Reid, the Northern Ireland Secretary, likely to face a difficult decision by the weekend on the future of the province’s political institutions.

The Assembly is facing collapse on 23 September if it cannot elect new First and Deputy First Ministers to the power-sharing executive as unionists and republicans remain locked in a bitter dispute over IRA disarmament.

Dr Reid is understood to be opposed to calling fresh Assembly elections and was urged by senior unionists to opt for further suspension to allow the Good Friday accord yet more time for review.

David Trimble, the Ulster Unionist leader, said yesterday the public should not interpret suspension as a sign that the process was at an end but that it could "end up strengthening the process rather than weakening it".

Mr Hume last night urged all parties, particularly Sinn Fein, to do everything in their power to bolster the fragile peace accord.

He said: "Naturally I want to see all parties use all energies to implement all aspects of the Good Friday agreement.

"In a specific request to Sinn Fein, I would like it to use its influence to ensure that the [weapons] decommissioning issue is resolved sooner rather than later."

Mr Hume was praised yesterday by politicians from Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

Tony Blair, the Prime Minister, said Mr Hume had made a significant contribution to "helping to take the gun out of Irish politics".

He went on: "His vision was instrumental in establishing the process that has led to the Good Friday agreement and I would personally like to thank him for his tireless efforts to realise that vision."

Bertie Ahern, the Irish Prime Minster, described Mr Hume as "a true Irish hero", and viewed his decision to quit as leader of the SDLP "with a sense of sadness - but also of immense gratitude for his magnificent public service".

Tributes were also paid by Gerry Adams, the Sinn Fein president, former Irish Premier Albert Reynolds, Mr Trimble and from Alex Salmond, the former leader of the Scottish National Party