The disgraced Congressman Anthony Weiner has announced that he is to step down over the scandal of his online communications.

Mr Weiner said he would leave his job, ending more than a week of speculation about his political future. He said he was sorry for the embarrassment that he had caused and added that he hoped to continue to fight for the key causes of his constituents.

The Jewish politician, who has represented a Brooklyn and Queens district for the Democrats for seven terms, initially denied that he was behind a picture sent on Twitter of a man wearing bulging underpants.

But he later admitted he was the one pictured and it emerged that he had conducted "inappropriate" internet and telephone exchanges with several women.

Mr Weiner, 46, continued the affairs even after he married Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin last year. His wife is now expecting their first child.