The Cook Island's Prime Minister, Jim Marurai, has been assuring the people that the country will continue to be governed as normal after parliament was dissolved this morning.
The Queen's Representative, Sir Frederick Goodwin, took the Prime Minister's advice and called new general elections after a by-election was won by the opposition.
Sir Frederick said in an address to the nation broadcast on local radio that he had grave doubts that a stable government would emerge from the present parliament.
Mr Murarai also gave an address on Cook Islands Radio, saying there was no cause for concern:
"I want to assure that there is no cause for alarm..cool heads will prevail and the country continue to be governed in an orderly fashion until the day of the election."
The current government can continue in a caretaker role for up to three months, but new elections must be held by October.
