27 Jan 2004

Vanuatu government says it is not under threat

8:26 am on 27 January 2004

The Vanuatu Government says it remains solid despite continuing pressures from within and outside government.

Two planned no confidence votes late last year were withdrawn before a vote was taken.

But the Opposition is reported to be planning a further attempt to topple the Prime Minister Edward Natapei.

More tension has been created by threats issued by the Republican Party leader, Maxime Carlot Korman, to pull out of the coalition if he is not included in Cabinet.

The Government spokesman Daniel Bangtor says the Prime Minister has no intention of bowing to Mr Korman's demands.