3 Dec 2010

Vanuatu’s Natapei ousted in no confidence challenge

7:02 am on 3 December 2010

The Vanuatu parliament has approved a motion to oust the prime minister Edward Natapei.

The vote came just hours after Mr Natapei left Port Vila for the UN climate change talks in Cancun.

According to Vanuatu media, Mr Natapei has been replaced by Sato Kilman.

Vanuatu's media were reportedly banned from attending the session of Parliament at which the motion was voted on.

Mr Natapei's latest tenure of the prime ministership followed the 2008 election but he was briefly thought to be out of office a year ago after the speaker determined that his seat was vacant for failing to register his absence.