1 Sep 2010

Vanuatu extra-ordinary Parliamentary session delayed

1:28 pm on 1 September 2010

Mystery surrounds the reasons for the cancellation of a planned extra-ordinary session of Vanuatu's Parliament which had been scheduled for Monday.

The Prime Minister Edward Natapei has written a letter to the Speaker, George Wells to cancel the session and reschedule it for October, saying he'll be out of country next week.

But our correspondent Hilaire Bule says the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have confirmed that Mr Natapei is not scheduled to leave the country until the UN General Assembly meeting in two weeks time.

There are also reports a motion for a vote of no confidence is possible and the leader of the opposition Maxime Carlot Korman says there is mounting support for such a move against Mr Natapei.

Mr Carlot Korman claims government back benchers have switched allegiance to the opposition side.