Irish PM resigns as leader of ruling party

    DUBLIN, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Irish（爱尔兰） Prime Minister Brian Cowen announced on Saturday afternoon that he is standing 1 down as leader of the ruling Fianna Fail, but will continue as the prime minister until the March 11 election.

    At a press conference（记者招待会） held in Dublin's Merrion Hotel, Cowen said he had not been in touch with any of his colleagues and that he had made the decision on his own counsel.

    "It is the right thing to do for the party," he told the reporters.

    Asked when he had made his decision, the Irish prime minister said it was only when he went home Friday evening.

    DUBLIN, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen announced on Saturday afternoon that he is standing down as leader of the ruling Fianna Fail, but will continue as the prime minister until the March 11 election.

    At a press conference held in Dublin's Merrion Hotel, Cowen said he had not been in touch with any of his colleagues and that he had made the decision on his own counsel（顾问）.

    "It is the right thing to do for the party," he told the reporters.

    Asked when he had made his decision, the Irish prime minister said it was only when he went home Friday evening.

    He said he discussed the matter with his family and made a political assessment 2 of the situation that he decided 3 to come up and make this announcement.

    Cowen said a united party is in his view the most important thing going into the general election, set for March 11.

    He said he spoke 4 with Green Party leader John Gormley within the last 40 minutes.

    The Green Party is Fianna Fail's coalition 5 partner.

    "My decision won't in any way affect government business," he said.

    Cowen said he believes the government will win the confidence vote to be tabled this coming Tuesday by the Labor 6 party.

    He also said he will decide whether to contest the general election in his home town Laois Offaly after a consultation 7 within his party.

    At present, Micheal Martin, who resigned as foreign minister on Tuesday, is the most popular successor to Cowen as leader of Fianna Fail.

    Meanwhile, opposition 8 parties urged Cowen to step down as prime minister.

    "The Taoiseach (prime minister)'s attempt to remain as head of government despite losing the confidence of his own party is another sad example of Fianna Fail putting their own survival ahead of the country's survival," said Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny.

    The opposition leader said Cowen should go to Aras an Uachtarain (official residence of the Irish president) to seek the dissolution of the Dail (lower house of parliament) immediately.

    "If he refuses to do so, Fine Gael will move a motion of no confidence in Brian Cowen as Taoiseach in the Dail on Tuesday."(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)