The ousted President of French Polynesia, Oscar Temaru, has returned from top-level talks in France, saying he is still prepared to discuss a possible fresh general election.
The Paris talks to end the political crisis in Tahiti collapsed a week ago when President Gaston Flosse suddenly left for Papeete because the occupation of public buildings there had not ended.
Mr Temaru was met by hundreds of supporters on arrival in Tahiti last night and told local radio that according to him the talks were only suspended.
This contrasts with the view of some of his coalition partners who say there is no point in further discussions as France and Mr Flosse keep ignoring the wish of the population to disssolve the entire assembly.
Part of the assembly will have to be filled in a by-election by mid-February after 37 of the assembly's 57 seats were declared empty because of serious election irregularities in May.
Mr Temaru says is he against a change of the electoral system and adds that time is of the essence if a general election is to be organised by mid-February.
Mr Flosse is against a dissolution of the assembly and has proposed a general election in 2006.
Meanwhile, anti-Flosse activists continue to occupy the presidential palace in defiance of call by all political leaders to vacate all occupied buildings.
A demonstration is being planned by other groups for tomorrow to protest against the disruption of public life.
