A sexual harassment scandal forces the head of Australia's parliament to step down.
Facing a lawsuit, Parliament Speaker Peter Slipper announced he is stepping aside Sunday, although he denies he harassed a former male staffer or misused taxpayer funded taxi vouchers.
[SLIPPER WALKING, BEING ASKED BY JOURNALIST (OFF-CAM): "Will you be standing down as speaker, Mr. Speaker?"]
(SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER PARLIAMENT SPEAKER PETER SLIPPER SAYING:
"All allegations have been denied, and I'll be making a statement this afternoon."
Opposition leaders have seized the opportunity to call on Slipper, who Prime Minister Julia Gillard backed for speaker last year, to resign permanently.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) OPPOSITION LEADER TONY ABBOTT SAYING:" This is a very, very serious situation where allegations of the gravest kind have been made against the speaker of the parliament.
Slipper says he expects to resume his role when the case is settled.
