Mintoff expected to launch new movement today

Mr Dom Mintoff is expected to launch the new movement Front Maltin Inqumu on Smash television tonight, movement sources said yesterday.

Mr Mintoff will be the guest of David Agius on Minibus, a discussion programme normally scheduled after the 8 p.m. news on Thursdays, but a special edition will be broadcast at 8.45 p.m. today.

Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici, who until recently spearheaded the Campaign for National Independence, resigned recently to assume the role of coordinator in the new group.

The new lobby group objects to the way the government is carrying out negotiations with the EU, whereas the CNI is opposed to EU membership as it believes membership would threaten the country's independence, freedom and sovereignty.

Although Mr Mintoff is known to have several staunch Labour supporters backing him in his initiative, former Cospicua mayor Paul Muscat had said that his backers had made it clear to him that they would withdraw their participation if Mr Mintoff attacked in any way the MLP leadership or the party itself.

Mr Mintoff is also expected to take part in Xarabank shortly. The programme's presenter Peppi Azzopardi said a meeting was scheduled to take place with Mr Mintoff this week to discuss various issues.

"On Xarabank, we shall discuss the new front's position. In this week's meeting we shall be discussing certain issues as we do with all special guests.

"Mr Mintoff is not making any conditions and we shall be asking questions and raising issues just as we do with everybody else," Mr Azzopardi said.