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George Galloway has blasted Peter Robinson saying the DUP leader is unfit to be Northern Ireland's First Minister.

The Respect MP waded into the row over the Mr Robinson’s backing of pastor James McConnell’s controversial comments about Muslims and Islam.

Mr Galloway said: “If he was a politician here in Britain he would have already been forced to resign.”

The DUP boss came under-fire for defending the evangelical preacher who called Islam “satanic” and said he didn’t trust Muslims.

The First Minister insisted the preacher’s comments don’t amount to a hate crime and that he would trust some Muslims to “go down the shops for me”.

Mr Galloway raged that the under-fire DUP chief’s comments have rendered “him unfit to be the first minister”.

He added: “It’s simply incredible... that someone with a duty to try and represent and protect the interests of all the people living in the place he is presiding over should endorse these kind of words."

The Belfast pastor’s comments, made in a sermon in his church last month, are being probed by police for whether they constitute a hate crime.

And the latest twist in the controversy descended into a Twitter spat between Mr Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness as the fractured relationship suffered another public rift.

The Sinn Fein MLA criticised his DUP partner in Stormont to show leadership.

The ex-IRA commander said: “All of us in positions of leadership have a responsibility to represent and stand up for all the people of our society.

“We have a duty to promote equality, mutual respect and tolerance for all in our society based on the core principles contained in the Good Friday Agreement.

“There is a real need for all of us those in positions of responsibility to step out of our own political constituencies and religious groupings and show genuine political leadership for all.”

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But an angry Mr Robinson hit back on Twitter posting: “I won’t take lectures from a self-confessed leader of a bloody terrorist organisation on equality, tolerance and mutual respect for all.”

Pastor McConnell, of Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle Church in North Belfast, branded Islam a heathen doctrine during a fiery sermon.

He said: “People say there are good Muslims in Britain - that may be so - but I don’t trust them.

“Islam is heathen, Islam is satanic, Islam is a doctrine spawned in hell.”

Mr Robinson, insisted in an interview with the Irish News, the pastor did not have “an ounce of hatred” in his body.

He said a Christian minister had a right to “denounce false doctrines”.

The DUP leader added that he would not trust Muslims for spiritual guidance, or those engaged in terrorist acts, but would trust Muslims to “go down the shops for me” or give him “the correct change”.

Khalid Anis from the Islamic Society of Britain said he was shocked that a prominent politician in a position of leadership can speak “with such a double tongue”.

Mr Anis added that for Mr Robinson to make such remarks in his position in government was “utterly disgraceful”.

The Muslim Association of Britain said: “The pastor’s comments not only hurt thousands of Muslims living peacefully in Northern Ireland, but also promote hatred and bigotry against all Muslims in the UK.

“The words of Mr Robinson demonstrate his lack of leadership, when as a representative he should be sensitive to the constituents he represents.”