Republican leader Lott forced out over racist remarks

Senator Trent Lott stepped down as Republican Senate leader yesterday – two weeks after making pro-segregationist comments which triggered a political storm and forced America to re-examine the issue of racism.

Mr Lott announced his resignation less than 24 hours after one of his colleagues, Bill Frist, declared his intention to challenge for the position. A number of other senators were quick to back Mr Frist publicly, indicating Mr Lott's demise was imminent.

In a statement, Mr Lott, 61, said: "In the interest of pursuing the best possible agenda for the future of our country, I will not seek to remain as majority leader of the United States Senate for the 108th Congress, effective 6 January 2003.

"To all those who offered me their friendship, support and prayers, I will be eternally grateful. I will continue to serve the people of Mississippi in the United States Senate."

Observers were surprised that Mr Lott lasted so long after making the comments at the 100th birthday party of outgoing Senator Strom Thurmond on 5 December.

Mr Thurmond ran for the presidency on a segregationist ticket in 1948 and Mr Lott said at the party that had the country supported him, "we wouldn't have had all the problems we have had since then".

The comments were not immediately seized upon, but criticism of Mr Lott grew until it became clear he did not have the backing of his colleagues.

Mr Lott fought hard to protect his position, apologising for his comments on at least five occasions and appearing on a black television channel to insist he was not a racist and his comments had been taken out of context.

But Mr Lott appeared to ignore the words of a fellow Mississippian, the novelist William Faulkner, that "the past is never dead. It's not even past" – failing to realise that a White House desperate to increase its tiny share of the black vote could not allow the public face of the Republican Party to be that of a man who spoke nostalgically of a segregated America. Last week George Bush delivered a humiliating public rebuke to Mr Lott, saying his comments were offensive and did not "reflect the spirit of the country", adding: "Any suggestion that the segregated past was acceptable or positive is offensive and it is wrong."

Although Ari Fleischer, the White House spokesman, repeatedly said Mr Bush did not think Mr Lott needed to resign, he pointedly refused to offer any support. Many on Capitol Hill said they could sense the hand of the President's political adviser, Karl Rove, in the growing opposition to the senator.

Mr Frist, from Tennessee, appears to be the front-runner for Mr Lott's job.

He said yesterday that several senators had approached him and asked him to challenge Mr Lott, and he had agreed to let them gauge support from all 51 of the Republicans who will serve in the Congress that convenes next month.

"I indicated to them that if it is clear that a majority of the Republican caucus believes a change in leadership would benefit the institution of the United States Senate, I will likely step forward for that role," he said.

Mr Frist received the support of three leading Republican senators, John Warner and George Allen from Virginia and James Inhofe from Oklahoma. Mr Warner, a Senate veteran of 24 years, will be the next chairman of the armed services committee and Mr Allen is a fast-rising freshman who will head the Senate Republicans campaign effort for the 2004 elections. Mr Inhofe is due to chair the environment and public works panel.