Nationalist MP Franco Debono this evening stuck to his guns at a meeting of the PN executive lasting for more than four hours, with the government facing the spectre of being unable to muster a majority to defeat an Opposition motion of no confidence in Transport Minister Austin Gatt unless the Speaker casts his vote.

The motion, due to be debated in the House on Friday, criticises the government over its handling of the reform of the bus service and demands Dr Gatt's resignation.

Dr Debono has warned he will abstain - robbing the government of its one-seat majority - unless Dr Gatt assumes political responsibility. He has fallen short of actually demanding Dr Gatt's resignation.

Informed sources said that this evening's meeting was dominated by arguments by Dr Debono on individual ministerial responsibility in a democracy.

Various proposals were made on amendments to the motion but Dr Debono was non-committal by the time the meeting ended, shortly before midnight.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said when he emerged from PN headquarters that this had been a constructive meeting and Dr Debono had promised to evaluate the proposed amendments to the Opposition motion. The executive, he said, recognised the importance of the bus service reform for the country and the work which needed to be done to achieve the people's expectations.

Dr Gonzi pointed out that the scenerio had changed radically since the motion was presented by the Opposition and a major change in the bus service was due on November 6. More changes would continue to be made.

Asked if the minister would shoulder responsibility, Dr Gonzi said the government was shouldering its responsibilities as the reform was a PN electoral promise.