PM asks Dalli for detailed report

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi did not rule out yesterday that he would sack Foreign Minister John Dalli over the revelations and allegations being made in his regard.

Dr Gonzi said when asked a direct question in an interview: "I've never ruled out anything whatsoever. All I want at this stage are the facts and then decisions will be taken from there".

The Prime Minister met Mr Dalli at Auberge de Castille yesterday evening to discuss the situation. Dr Gonzi said after the meeting that the Foreign Minister was denying allegations made against him - though it was not clear from the Prime Minister's comment which allegations he was referring to.

Mr Dalli has been asked by the Prime Minister to submit a detailed report on the matter and is expected to do so this morning.

The Times yesterday reported that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been booking its flights through a travel agency which is a shareholder in a company whose directors are the two daughters and a former driver of Mr Dalli.

Documents from the Registry of Companies show that Tourist Resources Ltd has a 30 per cent share in Maraner Holdings Ltd, which, in turn, has a 51 per cent shareholding in Gauci Borda Shipping Ltd - the company at the centre of allegations of abuse of power being levelled against Mr Dalli by Labour leader Alfred Sant.

Mr Dalli confirmed on Tuesday night that his ministry had made bookings through Tourist Resources Ltd.

In yesterday's interview, Dr Gonzi reiterated his call on Dr Sant to make public any information in his possession concerning his allegation that Mr Dalli influenced a decision by the Iranian Shipping Line to award a contract to Gauci Borda Shipping Ltd.

However, on the issue of the Foreign Ministry's travel bookings, Dr Gonzi said: "It is a second issue. Again, I need to get all the facts on this issue... I need to know exactly where the wrongdoing is and, from what I understood, the allegation in the article is that they are getting business from his ministry..."

The Prime Minister also said he was very concerned about the situation, adding that his ministers should be above any suspicion and that he needed to clear these allegations "as quickly as possible".