(Adds Saviour Balzan's statement)

Finance Minister Tonio Fenech has filed a libel suit against Maltatoday editor Raphael Vassallo and Saviour Balzan.

The minister said that an article "Exorcise yourself, Tonio" written by Mr Balzan was libelous and untrue. It was aimed at casting doubts on his integrity as minister with the aim of reducing his credibility.

In a statement, Mr Balzan said that he would be requesting the Court to hear this case with urgency.

No libel case would stop him or the paper from reporting or expressing his opinion on the behaviour of a minister who chose to fly on the private jet of a well-known businessman twice. No libel case would change the fact that the code of ethics was ignored.

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