11 Mar 2013

Nauru parliament dissolved and election date announced

3:19 pm on 11 March 2013

Nauru's parliament has been dissolved and an election date of April the 6th announced.

However, the group of politicians who last week challenged the parliamentary speaker's adjournment of the assembly are understood to be considering further legal action.

Last week, the Chief Justice Geoffrey Eames QC upheld the eight MPs' challenge and declared the adjournment by the speaker Ludwig Scotty as unconstitutional.

Radio New Zealand International understands that the challengers, who include a former president, Marcus Stephen, are looking at their legal options with a view to further Supreme Court action.

Sources predict that if that action is upheld both the dissolution of parliament and the accouncement of an election date could be declared null and void.