PNG government suspends parliament

The government of Papua New Guinea has suspended parliament from sitting between early December and next July.

Correspondents say that the adjournment is aimed at ensuring the survival of the Prime Minister, Sir Mekere Morauta.

According to the constitution of Papua New Guinea, votes of no-confidence are only allowed during limited periods in a government's life, which would have included the first six months of next year.

Announcing the move, Prime Minister Morauta said that the government could not afford to have its achievements undone for reasons of political expediency. Votes of no-confidence regularly bring down governments in Papua New Guinea, and no prime minister has ever survived a full five-year term.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service