Protestant firebrand-turned-peacemaker Ian Paisley to quit British Parliament after 40 years

Dublin:  Ian Paisley, the hard-line Northern Ireland evangelist who led Protestants into power-sharing with Catholics, says he is retiring from British Parliament after a 40-year career.

The 83-year-old Paisley spent decades opposing compromise with minority Catholics. He did a stunning U-turn in 2007 by forging a Northern Ireland administration with former IRA commander Martin McGuinness.

Within a year Paisley stepped down as leader of the coalition, his Democratic Unionist Party and the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster, the anti-Catholic church he founded.

Paisley said on Tuesday he won't seek re-election in North Antrim, the British parliamentary seat he has held since 1970.

His son, Ian Jr., is the favorite to succeed him in an election expected in May.