Senator Larry Craig To Step Down September 30

The Republican senator made his announcement in the capital city of Boise, Saturday, saying he will step down September 30.

He apologized to his constituents for being unable to serve out his term and said, amid shouts of support from his audience, that he was "humbled" by the support of his family and friends.

The lawmaker, who has served 27 years in Congress, has been under fire since Monday, when reports emerged that he had been arrested in June at an airport in the northern city of Minneapolis, in Minnesota. He pleaded guilty after an undercover police officer charged him with soliciting sex in a men's restroom.

Craig insisted earlier this week that he was not gay, and said he pleaded guilty to make the charge "go away." But Senate Republicans strongly denounced Craig and demanded his resignation.

Craig was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Idaho in 1980. He served four terms in the House before his election to the Senate in 1990. He is a conservative who has spoken out against gay rights, including same-sex marriage.

Larry Craig was up for re-election in 2008.

Some information for this report was provided by AP. - VOA NEWS