Trent Lott steps down as Senate Republican leader

Trent Lott is to step down as US Senate Republican leader, a senior party aide said today.

Mr Lott, aged 61, has been under fire since saying earlier this month that he regretted that Strom Thurmond lost the presidential race of 1948. Mr Thurmond, a fellow Southerner from the state of South Carolina, had run on a platform advocating the segregation of whites and blacks.

Mr Lott has since apologised for his comments.

"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 Jan. 6, 2003," Mr Lott said in a written statement.

"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."

With Mr Lott's departure, the only declared candidate for his post so far has been Tennessee Sen. Bill Frist, a close ally of President George Bush. Mrr Frist, who made his candidacy known last evening, has so far garnered public support from at least seven senators.

But Republican senators Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania were considered possible rivals for the job.

The 51 Republican senators who will serve in the next Congress plan to meet on 6 January to decide who their next leader will be.