An estimated 2,000 people have joined a rally in Papeete in support of
the ousted French Polynesian president, Gaston Tong Sang, ahead of
tomorrow's planned election of a new president.
While warning that democracy was at risk and the territory in danger, Mr Tong Sang expressed his wish for a continued partnership with France, including President Nicolas Sarkozy.
He was ousted at the end of last month after some of his party colleagues supported a no confidence motion by the opposition which accused him of being a pathological liar.
Mr Tong Sang will be a candidate for the presidency tomorrow, along with his party colleague Edouard Fritch and the opposition's Oscar Temaru, who was voted out of office in December.
It is uncertain whether any of the three candidates can muster enough
support to secure a 29-strong majority in the 57-member assembly.
A ruling is awaited from France to determine whether a presidential
election is valid if the winner falls short of 29 votes.
France has already said it will arrange a fresh general election in French Polynesia under a new electoral system as soon as possible in a bid to restore political stability.
After the last election three years ago, the French supreme court found that there were irregularities and ordered a by-election for 37 of the 57 seats.
