Labour leader Alfred Sant yesterday said he did not intend to contest the party leadership at the next general conference, a day after his party lost its second consecutive general election.

Dr Sant's statement, anticipated by some, but sure to shock several Labour supporters, came during Manuel Cuschieri's radio programme Tajjeb li Tkun Taf on Super One radio yesterday evening.

"My intention is not to contest as leader of the Labour Party, because it's time to give space for a new leadership," Dr Sant said, towards the end of the programme.

He said the extraordinary general conference would be held within three to four weeks in order to ensure a period of reflection.

He vowed he would personally still give his full support to the party. He did not comment further.

As the Nationalist Party celebrated its electoral victory yesterday, rumours of resignation ran rife throughout the day, especially after Dr Sant failed to be sworn in as leader of the opposition.

During the radio programme, Dr Sant said the Labour Party remained a strong party, despite the forces which worked against it in the run-up to the election.

He reiterated his anti-EU membership stand, saying that many people might have been blinded by the short-term benefits the EU might offer, forgetting the hardships which would follow.

Speaking about the electoral campaign, Dr Sant said that he was particularly upset by the Nationalist supporters waving EU flags rather than party flags.

He also commented about what he described as the PN campaign of character assassination.

Dr Sant was party president between 1984 and 1988. He first contested the general election in 1987 and was co-opted after the death of Joseph P. Sciberras. He contested the 1992 election successfully and was voted in as the new leader in March of that year after the resignation of Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici. He was prime minister between 1996 and 1998.

Labour deputy leader George Vella was contacted at his home and asked whether he too intended to resign, but said he had no comment to make.

A clearly upset Dr Vella said his home had been attacked by a group of Nationalist supporters on Sunday afternoon, shortly after the PN knew it had won the election. He said the mob shouted and banged on his home at Zejtun, taunting and scaring his family in the process.

Labour deputy leader Joe Brincat denied rumours he had submitted a letter of resignation. When contacted following Dr Sant's announcement, he commented that what was said reflected what Dr Sant thought but declined to comment on whether he would be contesting his post.

The rumours spreading yesterday also referred to Dr Sant's possible successor. Many would not declare their intentions.

Sources confirmed that former MLP deputy leader George Abela is being urged to run. They said high MLP officials, party delegates and MPs who were elected in last Saturday's election were among those who are known to be urging Dr Abela to declare he is willing to contest for the post.

A number of high officials from the General Workers' Union are also four-square behind Dr Abela and are urging him to contest.

Dr Abela is considered by his promoters as an ideal candidate whom the Nationalist Party would find a strong opponent, especially after the praise lavished on him even by the prime minister in the referendum and election campaigns, the sources said.

Anglu Farrugia said he had not yet decided whether to contest and Alfred Mifsud said he had been not elected to parliament.

José Herrera said the party had reached the time when it should review its policies and ideas on how it viewed the electorate. It needed to be more in touch with them and with their aspirations.

When asked whether he saw a possible contender for the post from outside the party, he said he did not exclude that possibility but had no-one in mind. He said he would be interested in contesting for one of the deputy leadership posts.

"Dr Sant was the right leader at the right time in 1992 and 1996. He modernised the party and rid it of the violent and criminal element but democracy dictates that after two electoral defeats, one has to bow out."

Evarist Bartolo said he would rather see how things developed before taking a decision. He said he had expected Dr Sant to resign, based on Dr Sant's integrity. "Dr Sant has regularly shown his integrity, although most of the time he was not rewarded for it."

John Attard Montalto was the first to bring up the possibility that the leadership should change. He also openly declared his intention to contest.