Alternattiva Demokratika today urged people to vote in the divorce referendum on May 29.

Chairman Michael Briguglio told a news conference AD was confident the referendum could be won, if people stood up to be counted.

"We strongly appeal those who are in favour of the introduction of divorce to vote Yes in the referendum.

"Abstention from voting can play in the hands of the fundamentalists who want Malta to remain without this basic civil right.

"We also appeal to those who do not agree with divorce but do not want to prohibit others from this right to vote yes in the referendum.

"Those who want to deny divorce to the thousands who need this civil right should not be allowed to win."

Deputy chairman Yvonne Arqueros Ebejer said "one should vote yes because adults have a right to make their own decisions about whether they want to stay single, to remarry or to cohabit with their new partner once their previous marriage has irrevocably failed."

Divorce, she said, was a civil right which was being denied to a number of people who were not in a position to obtain it from abroad.

Spokesman Arnold Cassola said AD was asking the Maltese to live up to the motto of the European Union 'United in diversity'.

"People might have different beliefs but we should be tolerant of the beliefs of others, even if they are different from ours.

"Voting 'YES' at the referendum will also be a respectful sign of tolerance of those who do not necessarily share your beliefs, but who are in need of your help to be able to start afresh in life," he said.