A policeman suffered fractures early this morning when he was assaulted by two Britons outside the President's Palace in Valletta, the police said.

The officer had been on the beat in Archbishop Street when he heard shouting at Palace Square.

He went on site and found the two Britons being aggressive to a soldier guarding the palace.

When he intervened, the Britons, aged 25 and 24, assaulted him and resisted arrest. They were eventually arrested and are to be arraigned.

The Britons are resident in Msida and St Julian's.

The injured policeman was treated at Floriana health centre and Mater Dei Hospital.