Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has appealed to the opposition to cooperate with the government and open a fresh chapter in the island's politics. He was speaking at the end of a meeting of the PN general council this morning..

Dr Gonzi augured that that Labour under a new leader would participate in the government's initiatives.

"I hope that the opposition's negative chapter is closed," he said, adding that the government's is willing to wait until the opposition completes the changes it is going through.

He said that it was for this reason that Parliament had been summoned on the last date possible after the elections. And although the Speaker's appointment has been criticised, the government was willing to wait for the opposition's final decision on the issue, he said.

The council confirmed Prime Minister Gonzi as leader and Tonio Borg as deputy leader.

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