Story highlights The political crisis was sparked by the resignation of Martin McGuinnessThe Northern Ireland Assembly can only function with a power-sharing agreement(CNN) Northern Ireland is facing a snap election after a breakdown in the fragile power-sharing agreement that has ensured peace for nearly 20 years. The British government called the new elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont, outside Belfast, in an effort to resolve a political crisis that has been brewing for months. James Brokenshire, the Northern Ireland minister in the UK government, confirmed the new elections would be held on 2 March. Financial scandalThe crisis came to a head last week when the nationalist Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, resigned.

Source: CNN January 16, 2017 17:43 UTC