Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said this afternoon that although he did not feel political parties should intervene in the spring hunting referendum, he would be voting for the retention of spring hunting.

Dr Muscat said this should come as no surprise in view of his previous declarations and the mandate he was given, but he would respect the will of the people.

"I do not sit on the fence" Dr Muscat said when speaking at a press conference at the Auberge de Castille after announcing that the referendum on the abolition of spring hunting would be held on April 11.

He said he did not feel political parties should intervene directly in the referendum, but it was obvious that everyone had an opinion, and he did too. "Everyone is free to take his decisions," he insisted.

REFERENDUM QUESTION STILL BEING FORMULATED

He said the referendum question would be based on the petition made for the holding of the referendum. The petition had asked whether the dispositions of the law (on spring hunting) should continue to remain in force. On the other hand, this was an abrogative referendum - to strike down a law. A process was therefore under way to ensure that the question was in line with the petition and conformed with the law. (The proponents of the referendum to abolish spring hunting have to date carried 'yes' placards)

The referendum will be held together with local elections in half of Malta's towns and villages. The go-ahead was given by the Constitutional Court yesterday.

It will be the first abrogative referendum to be held in Malta. The call for the referendum and the collection of the required number of signatures was made by the Campaign for the Abolition of Spring Hunting.