16 May 2003

Nauru political stalemate continues

5:22 am on 16 May 2003

Nauru's parliamentarians remained deadlocked over who should form the new Government nearly two weeks after the national election.

Another meeting yesterday failed to elect a speaker, and the MPs have agreed to try again on Tuesday.

A speaker needs to be selected before the vote on a President, for which there are three candidates each with equal backing in the 18-member assembly.

Earlier this week two MPs said parliament should be dissolved and fresh elections held, but a spokesman for the caretaker President Derog Gioura says they are trying to resolve the impasse through negotiation.