By Ashley Collman

Published: 19:54 EST, 30 April 2014 | Updated: 13:18 EST, 1 May 2014

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Toronto Mayor Rob Ford is taking a leave of absence and pausing his re-election campaign to treat his alcoholism.

Ford's step away from the mayor's office follows the emergence of a new video allegedly showing him smoking crack in the early hours of Saturday at his sister's home.

The controversial mayor issued a statement late on Wednesday, saying that he has decided to 'seek immediate help' and is '100 per cent committed to getting myself right'.

A self-professed drug dealer began marketing three videos allegedly showing Ford smoking crack in his sister's house on Saturday, which he is trying to sell for 'at least six figures'.

On Thursday, Doug Ford, the brother and campaign manager of Ford, made an impassioned plea on his behalf.

Choking back tears, Doug Ford said at a press conference: 'I’ll continue to stand by my brother and his family throughout this difficult journey.'

Doug Ford has in the past defiantly defended his brother when reports of crack-smoking surfaced. Today he admitted: 'This is one of the toughest days of my life.'

He said: 'In saying that, I also have a sense of relief. As an older brother, I am relieved that Rob has faced his problems and has decided to seek professional help. This is not an easy thing for anyone to do especially when you're the mayor of this city.'

He added: 'Rob was very emotional when he told me the hardest thing about this is he knows he let people down.'

The mayor first grabbed international attention last year when a group tried selling another video showing the mayor smoking crack.

While that video was never released to the public, Toronto Police say they have a copy of it and Mayor Ford eventually copped to smoking the substance in a 'drunken stupor'.

A dealer says he took the latest video last Saturday around 1.15am in Kathy Ford's basement.

Globe and Mail reporters were shown clips of the videos on Wednesday and report that it shows a man who appears to be the mayor 'taking a drag from a long copper-colored pipe, exhaling a cloud of smoke, his right arm convulsing'.

Also shown in the video is a man who looks like Alessandro 'Sandro' Lisi, the mayor's former driver and who has been accused of being a drug-dealing extortionist.

The mayor's sister Kathy is also allegedly seen in the clips, sitting in front of her brother.

In the third clip, Mr Ford speaks to her while holding a pipe.

Gawker was also approached about the tape, and published screens shots of the clips. The dealer told the outlet that the Globe and Mail had purchased stills of the video for $10,000.

It's been an eventful week for Ford, who was also secretly recorded getting drunk in Toronto bar Sullie Gorman's Monday night, making lewd comments about mayoral competition Karen Stintz.

'I’d like to f*g jam her (Stintz), but she doesn’t want ... I can’t talk like this ... I’m so sorry,' Ford says in the recording obtained by the Toronto Sun. 'I forgot there’s a woman in the house.'

The mayor can also be heard on the recording talking about the gay pride rainbow flag which is raised at Toronto's City Hall.

He said: 'They put this f flag up ahead of our Canadian flag, I said, ''No, I’m sorry. Bulls'''.

He later adds that he is 'so f***** sick of politics'.

Witnesses also told the Sun that Ford ordered shooters, tried to fight other patrons and was just generally 'acting like a real a**'.

A bartender at the restaurant, which is located near Ford's mother's house, said the mayor was 'in fine form'.

Ford was noticeably absent from city hall the next day.

'I KNOW THAT I NEED PROFESSIONAL HELP': READ ROB FORD'S FULL STATEMENT ANNOUNCING PAUSE IN CAMPAIGN AND LEAVE OF ABSENCE

Tonight, I want to take some time to speak from my heart to the people of Toronto. It’s not easy to be vulnerable, and this is one of the most difficult times in my life.

I just want to say to the people of Toronto that I thank you for your ongoing support and encouragement. I cannot tell you enough how much I appreciate it.

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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2617444/Lawyer-Toronto-mayor-seek-help.html