25 Apr 2010

Snap election in Nauru

6:02 am on 25 April 2010

The people of Nauru have been voting in a snap election.

The vote was called to break a parliamentary stalemate after repeated opposition attempts to unseat President Marcus Stephen.

There are 86 candidates for the 18-member parliament from a population of 14,000 people.

The island is the smallest independent republic in the world.

Observers from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat monitored the vote on Saturday. A turnout of 80% - 90% was expected.