12 Sep 2005

Cook Islands PM sacks two more ministers

3:19 pm on 12 September 2005

The Cook Islands prime minister, Jim Marurai, has sacked two more Cabinet ministers.

Mr Marurai dumped the foreign minister Tom Marsters and the justice minister Tupou Faireka late last week.

The Cook Islands News reports the Mr Marurai as saying he is clearing the dirt from his government.

The two ministers are both members of the Cook Islands Party whose party leader Sir Geoffrey Henry was sacked as deputy prime minister and replaced by Democratic party leader, Dr Terepai Maoate.

Mr Marurai also says the partnership agreement between his party, Cook Islands First, and the CIP has also been dissolved.

He says he had taken this action after threats to his leadership of the government.