Updated, adds video, details - Talks between the government and the opposition on the citizenship scheme broke down in disagreement this afternoon.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Opposition leader Simon Busuttil held a final meeting at the Auberge de Castille this afternoon. Another meeting was held on Saturday.

As they came out of Castille Dr Muscat and Dr Busuttil both confirmed the talks had collapsed and said they would hold press conferences.

Dr Busuttil said the opposition called on the government to withdraw the scheme. He said Dr Muscat was persisting in shaming the country.

Dr Muscat said the government would explain the 'new' scheme. He said the government did not want to throw away what had been built so far.

A week ago the two leaders had said they had made good progress and an agreement was possible, but informed sources said no deal was struck in today’s brief meeting.

The opposition had insisted that rather than an outright sale of citizenship, the Individual Investor Programme should only grant citizenship on the basis of residence or investment in Malta.

DR BUSUTTIL'S LETTER TO DR MUSCAT

In a letter to the prime minister, Dr Busuttil said the Opposition could never accept the sale of citizenship.

It was unacceptable that a person could buy Maltese citizenship without any link to the country and without even having ever come here.

Other EU countries demanded residence for a number of years before granting citizenship.

Dr Busuttil appealed to Dr Muscat to stop the scheme, saying it had cast a bad light on the country.

See the letter in full on pdf below.