6 Dec 2005

French Polynesia's opposition loses two more assembly members

3:24 pm on 6 December 2005

French Polynesia's opposition Tahoeraa Huiraatira Party has lost another two members in the 57-seat assembly.

Teina Maraeura and Michel Yip who are both representatives from the Tuamotu archipelago have decided to become independents and join others from the outer islands.

Their move has left the Tahoeraa led by veteran politician Gaston Flosse with 21 members.

Their departure comes just days after a former top Tahoeraa politician was elected president of the new political parym, Rautahi.

Jean-Christophe Bouissou was forced out of the Tahoeraa earlier this year after disagreements with Mr Flosse following the Tahiti by-election in February.