Noel Formosa, Mayor of San Lawrenz and Carmelo (Charles) Saliba, Mayor of Zebbug (Gozo) have decided not to contest the forthcoming local council elections because of court proceedings they are facing.

The Nationalist Party this evening published letters from the two mayors where they told PN General Secretary Paul Borg Olivier of their decision.

Mr Saliba, who first contested the elections in 1994, recalled that he is facing two court cases - the first  over works on a path in the fields which, he said, Mepa had considered as illegal dumping, and the second over alleged misuse of the council's laptop for personal purposes.

He said he wanted to be in the best position to prove his innocence, without in any way casting a bad light on the PN.

Mr Formosa said he had taken his decision with a heavy heart because of allegations against him, but he hoped this would only be a temporary break from pubic life until the courts proved his innocence. Mr Formosa has served in the council for 18 years.

Both decisions were accepted by Dr Borg Olivier.