Labour leader Alfred Sant yesterday marched to court, together with members of his party, to file a libel suit against IT and Investment Minister Austin Gatt over comments made during the Nationalist Party's general council last Sunday.
In the suit Dr Sant noted that Dr Gatt was aware that his words would be reported in the media.
On Tuesday, Dr Sant formally asked the police to institute criminal libel proceedings against Dr Gatt for the same comments. Accompanied by Labour deputy leaders Charles Mangion and Michael Falzon and other members of the party's administration, Dr Sant walked from in front of the Presidents' Palace to the law courts in Valletta to file the libel suit.
Speaking to members of the media outside the law courts after filing the suit, Dr Sant described Dr Gatt's declaration as "dirty and libellous".
Lawyer Pawlu Lia signed the suit.