Paisley: New generation should lead

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The 81-year-old, who will retire as First Minister in May, dismissed suggestions he had been forced out by an internal Democratic Unionist Party coup.

And in a provocative statement, he said Sinn Fein were no longer "true republicans" because they had accepted Britain's right to govern in Northern Ireland.

In an interview with BBC1's Andrew Marr show, Mr Paisley said: "There's a new thinking in Ulster today, not only that there is a new generation.

"There are people now coming out of their teens, they didn't know the troubles. They were never there - that's the sort of country they want to live in.

"They should be given the opportunity to help to mould that country and how they feel it should be run."

There has been speculation that Mr Paisley was forced to quit after coming under pressure from his party over his "Chuckle Brothers" relationship with Sinn Fein's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and the resignation of Ian Paisley Jnr.

But Mr Paisley said: "There's always people in every party who, for reasons best known to themselves, will take different attitudes. But that's politics and I think people know that I wouldn't budge very easily if I didn't want to."

On his relationship with Mr McGuiness, Mr Paisley said despite their good working relationship the pair had never shaken hands as to do so would be a "farce".

And he said he had "smashed" Sinn Fein because they were now involved in the political process.