(Adds opposition's reaction)

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has cancelled his overseas commitments scheduled for next week following the presentation of two motions by the Opposition - one of no confidence in the government and the other to limit the debate on the no confidence motion.

Speaking this morning, Dr Gonzi said that the fact that there now was this development he cancelled his commitments abroad as the no confidence motion had to be moved for debate.

He gave his assurance that the motion would be debated and resolved.

He criticised the moving of a "guillotine" motion, something which, he said, had never taken place during his premiership.

Through the guillotine procedure, the Opposition was proposing that MPs should not have time to debate the issue. They wanted a no confidence motion without a debate.

But the Labour Party said in a statement that Dr Gonzi was forgetting that the time it was proposing for the motion was exactly the same as proposed by Dr Gonzi in a confidence motion he presented in November.

"The country cannot remain hostage because the Prime Minister wants to cling on to power," the PL said.

Dr Gonzi said the House Business Committee was meeting on Monday and he hoped the Opposition would revise its anti-democratic behaviour.

Asked whether any contact had been made with Dr Debono, the Prime Minister refused to comment.

The Opposition moved a motion of no confidence in the government this morning, saying it should be debated in Parliament on Thursday morning with the debate ending at noon.

See also:

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120113/local/muscat-finally-declares-i-will-move-a-vote-of-no-confidence.402092