The country waits in anticipation today for the vote in the Opposition's motion of no confidence in the government, due to be taken at noon.

The debate on the motion started last Monday and ends today. Nationalist MP Franco Debono, who spoke yesterday, kept the country guessing as to what his vote will be.

Originally he had said he would be voting against the government but later softened his position and said he may abstain.

Today's speeches are being reported in separate stories.

Live coverage of today's proceedings follows:

12.58 p.m. - Press conference ends, he takes no question. As he walks out of the Palace he is greeted with should of "Gonzi, Gonzi". Police presence is heavy.

12.53 p.m. - PM addresses press conference in Palace courtyard.

12.46 p.m. - PL is also holding press conference, at 1.30 p.m.

12.40 p.m. - PM's people setting up flags in Palace Courtyard where a press conference is being held shortly.

12.20 p.m. - Claps or boos in St George's Square from PN and Labour supporters. Franco declines to comment and is whisked to car which is immediately driven away.

12.13 p.m. - Speaker declares result - 34 votes for 34 votes against and one abstention. Speaker says he has the duty to cast the deciding vote which he was casting against the motion.

12.11 a.m. - Clerk of the House calling names of those against motion.

12.09 a.m. – Clerk of the House calling names of those in favour of motion.

12.08 a.m. - Says he has gone through personal sacrifice and hopes this will lead to the creation of a better state. Says he will be abstaining with a clear conscience.

12.06 p.m- Whips tell Speaker there is agreement for vote to be taken immediately. Dr Debono signals to speak. He stands to explain vote. Says he is willing to sacrifice everything for the country he loves so much.

12.04 p.m. - Dr Debono has his arms on the bench. He looks like he is getting geared up to speak.

12.03 p.m. – Dr Muscat concludes speech. Speaker is explaining vote procedure.

noon - Speaker points to Dr Muscat that debate time is up but there is agreement for him to continue. Vote to be taken when Dr Muscat concludes speech.

11.58 a.m. - Anticipation increases. Tonio Borg points angrily. All MPs on the government benches are angry.

11.54 a.m. - Vote due in about five minutes.

11.45 p.m. - Minister Austin Gatt is speaking to the Prime Minister.

11.44 a.m. - Vote due in about 15 minutes.

11.40 a.m. - Strangers Gallery is packed. Many known Labourites among those present including councillors and party officials. There are also ministry officials. Some PN supporters are present outside Parliament. The situation is very calm.

11.34 a.m. - Dr Muscat still listing reasons for the motion. These include anarchy in prisons, children at Mount Carmel, the situation in the Courts.

11.29 a.m. - Vote expected to be taken in half an hour.

11.27 a.m. - Dr Muscat lists among the reasons for the motion public transport, lack of employment and Gozo and unkept promises.

11.25 a.m. - Jean Pierre Farrugia is in the Chamber.

11.23 a.m. - Dr Muscat accuses the government of not using the same yardstick with all his ministers.

11.21 a.m. - Dr Muscat refers to Minister George Pullicino in his speech and Mr Pullicino calls Dr Muscat a liar.

11.19 a.m. - Dr Muscat speaks on honoraria increase and says that although the increase was removed, ministers will get it back should the PN be returned to power.

11.15 a.m. - Dr Muscat says that ARMs has destroyed families.

11.14 a.m. - Speaks on Arriva which did not provide a solution for thousands of commuters. The task force the PM had set up only met three times. Dr Gonzi nods his head in disbelief.

11.13 a.m. - He acknowledges that Malta's economy did better than that of other countries but says this is in spite and not because of the government.

11.11 a.m. - Dr Muscat says the government is not thirsty but drunk with power following a quarter of a century of arrogance.

11.09 a.m. - Dr Muscat taken on farming reference which had been made by the Finance Minister and says he had never seen a farmer making such a mess of finances. Applause.

11.08 a.m. - Chris Cardona, PL, comments x'misthija - (what an embarrassment).

11.05 a.m. - Dr Muscat says the debate showed how necessary the motion was. Nine hours of debate showed that the government was in denial with the government acting as an ostrich digging its head in the sand. Dr Gonzi would win a first class Olympic medal for this.

11.04 a.m. - Dr Muscat says PN is no longer Partit Nazzjonalista. It has become a clique of GonziPN people who hijacked the party.

11.02 a.m. - Dr Muscat says there is a 'wait and see' PM when the country needs action. Criticises government for refusing The Times request for the photographing of part of the debate.

11.01 a.m. - Dr Spiteri is in the Chamber.

10.59 a.m. - Dr Muscat accuses PM of abdicating his duty when he did not call a vote of confidence himself to remove uncertainety.

10.58 a.m. - Dr Gonzi concludes his speech saying that the country deserves better. Opposition leader starts the winding up, accusing the Prime Minister of shedding crocodile tears.

10.55 a.m. - Speaker says Prime Minister's time is over. Dr Gonzi asks for an additional three to four minutes of debate. Dr Muscat says he has no objection with the Prime Minister taking all the time he needs. Adrian Vassallo is also in the Chamber. All MPs on the Opposition benches seem to be present.

10.51 a.m. - Mr Galea sits in front of Dr Debono.

10.50 a.m. - Mario Galea and Jesmond Mugliett are now in the Chamber. Mr Galea goes near Dr Debono but does not sit down.

10.48 a.m. - Dr Debono signals to Lou Bondi, who is on the journalists' bench, and jokes about his phone ringing.

10.47 a.m. - Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando enters the Chamber. He sits near Mr Arrigo, who is sitting next to Dr Debono.

10.45 a.m. - Dr Debono's phone rings a couple of times. He looks at it.

10.43 a.m. - Dr Debono shares a joke with Mr Arrigo, who is sitting next to him.

10.42 a.m. - 41 per cent of respondents in the timesofmalta.com poll say Dr Debono should back the government.

10.40 a.m. - Opposition benches almost full. No sign of Adrian Vassallo though. The government is still missing Dr Pullicino Orlando, Mr Mugliett, Dr Stephen Spiter,and Mr Peter Micallef. Dr Debono looks focused as he returns to his seat.

10.39 a.m. - Robert Arrigo walks in.

10.37 a.m. - Dr Debono sits on the fifth seat from the door