// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
DUP MLA joins Lockhart's call for O'Neill's removal as first minister
Diane Forsythe said there was "immense" anger among unionists over Michelle O'Neill's actions
A Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) assembly member has joined MP colleague Carla Lockhart's calls for Stormont's First Minister Michelle O'Neill to be "removed from office".
Diane Forsythe said "profound consequences" pledged over the Sinn Féin vice-president's handling of the Drumcree parading dispute "must be honoured".
Lockhart last week stepped down from the DUP's officer board in response to party leader Gavin Robinson not removing their deputy first minister to force O'Neill from the joint office.
It follows unionist anger over the first minister's involvement in protests on the Garvaghy Road, which blocked a contentious Orange Order parade from passing along the mainly nationalist street in Portadown, County Armagh.
O'Neill and several other senior Sinn Féin figures have been interviewed by police investigating the demonstrations, with unionists accusing the party of acting unlawfully.
The Sinn Féin deputy leader has defended her attendance at the demonstrations last month, saying she would "continue to stand with the Garvaghy Road residents".
The political row has sparked differences of opinion over how to respond within the DUP, which shares power with Sinn Féin in Stormont's devolved government.
Forsythe is an assembly member for the South Down constituency and part of the DUP's party officer team.
In a post on Facebook on Monday night, Forsythe said she was "pleased" to show her support for Upper Bann MP Lockhart at a recent rally in Portadown.