The government said this afternoon that Joseph Muscat's criticism of Richard Cachia Caruana this morning showed contempt of parliament and a kangaroo court attitude.

In a statement, the government said that Dr Muscat was continuing to demonstrate political incompetence by failing to admit that he had misunderstood a cable released by Wikileaks.

(Labour has moved a motion in Parliament seeking Mr Cachia Caruana's resignation after claiming that the cable showed that he discussed reactivation of Malta's membership of Partnership for Peace behind parliament's back. The government says the talks were only about access to Nato documents for Malta).

In its statement, the government said that instead of admitting his mistake, Dr Muscat was continuing to show contempt of parliament when, together with George Vella, he was moving a motion based on a false premise.

"Dr Muscat and Dr Vella want to take Parliament back to the 1970s and 1980s where whoever shouted loudest got his way, but the Maltese Parliament is not the kangaroo court they want," the government said.

The government also regretted the personal attacks made against Mr Cachia Caruana.

"Malta's permanent representative to the EU has followed government decisions in every post he has occupied. Dr Muscat has difficulty understanding the fact that officials follow government policy," the government said.

See Dr Muscat's remarks at - http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120506/local/muscat-renews-promise-of-better-future-for-young-people.418642