Lawrence Gonzi, 50, is Malta's second youngest prime minister since the island gained independence in 1964 and not, as inadvertently reported yesterday, since Malta gained self-governance in 1921.

Dr Gonzi succeeds Eddie Fenech Adami at the helm just 11 months into this government's term.

There were two occasions on which an incumbent was substituted: Gorg Borg Olivier became prime minister in 1950 when Nerik Mizzi died after just three months in office and in 1984 Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici was co-opted to parliament and became prime minister in 1984 after Dom Mintoff resigned.

The historical error is regretted.