Martin McGuinness urges Stormont's First Minister to step aside

Northern Ireland's power-sharing government has been plunged into crisis over a green energy scheme.

First Minister Arlene Foster flatly rejected Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness's call for her to "stand aside" to allow a probe into corruption allegations.

The row threatening the region's peace-building institutions has erupted over a controversial green energy scheme - set up by Mrs Foster - which paid out subsidies well in excess of the costs of buying renewable fuel.

It is expected to cost taxpayers in Northern Ireland £400 million amid claims of widespread abuse of the scheme including a farmer apparently set to pocket around £1 million in the next 20 years for heating an empty shed.

The "cash for ash" scandal reached fever pitch on Thursday when former Democratic Unionist Party economy minister Jonathan Bell broke ranks to level a series of explosive claims against his leader Mrs Foster and party advisers.

In an extraordinary TV interview, a tearful Mr Bell said God told him to come clean as he claimed a "highly agitated and angry" Mrs Foster demanded he keep the Renewable Heat Initiative open for an extra fortnight despite its huge losses.

Against the backdrop of street protests in Belfast and Londonderry calling for Mrs Foster to go, Mr McGuinness telephoned Mrs Foster and asked her to temporarily "stand aside" in the public interest to allow an independent investigation into the affair.

The Sinn Fein chief said he told her he was seriously concerned the credibility of Northern Ireland's political institutions is being "undermined" by the allegations.

"This includes allegations from a former DUP Minster that there was corruption," he said.

But the DUP quickly let it be known that Mrs Foster had no intention of going anywhere - adding she didn't take instructions from her power-sharing partners Sinn Fein.

"The First Minister will not be stepping aside, but instead is focused on ensuring the full facts about this issue emerge and proposals are brought forward which can make a significant reduction in the future financial burden the Executive would face," a party spokesman said.

"The First Minister does not take her instructions from Sinn Fein, but from the electorate."