Cook Islands political parties are calling each other to account as campaigning heats up before next week's general election.
A record number of 70 candidates are contesting the November 17 poll, with suggestions that the 16 independents standing may affect the two main parties' traditional dominance of the 24-member parliament.
Our correspondent in Rarotonga, Florence Syme Buchanan, says both the opposition Cook Islands Party and the governing Democratic Party have been heckling each other over perceived past bungles.
"Earlier this week we had the leader of the Cook Islands Party saying that the governing Democratic Party must take responsibility for the Toagate fiasco which you know has cost the country millions of dollars and then the Democratic party returned comment today which was headline news saying that the Cook Islands Party has a lot to answer for and they should look in the mirror before making accusations."
Our correspondent in the Cook Islands, Florence Syme Buchanan.
