Malta’s PM expected to quit in crisis over journalist’s murder

VALLETTA: Malta’s Prime Minister Joseph Muscat came under increasing pressure to resign on Friday as protesters cried foul over the latest twist in the case of slain journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.An intensifying probe into the murder of Galizia, who was killed by a car bomb in October 2017, has destabilised his government. The Times of Malta said Muscat told associates Friday he plans to resign imminently, though AFP was not able to immediately confirm the report. This week saw two ministers and Muscat’s chief of staff Keith Schembri step down from their posts. Arrested on Tuesday, Schembri was released on Thursday, sparking accusations of a cover-up.Early Friday, Muscat said the main suspect in Galizia’s killing, tycoon Yorgen Fenech, would not be granted immunity to disclose what he knows about the case. He was later released on bail. “Every minute (Muscat) remains in office he increases the risk of justice not being done,” opposition leader Adrian Delia said.Muscat has been heavily criticised over the handling of the case, amid allegations he has obstructed justice by protecting high-profile politicians. Earlier this week he vowed to resign if links were found between himself and the murder.He insisted early Friday that he would remain in power, telling reporters he wanted “this case to be closed under my watch”.His comments infuriated protesters. Fresh demonstrations were planned for later on Friday. “We share Malta’s shock and anger at the release of Keith Schembri,” the Caruana Galizia family said in a statement.“At least two witnesses and multiple pieces of physical evidence implicate Schembri in the assassination of our wife and mother,” they said. They accused Muscat of playing “judge, jury, and executioner in an assassination investigation that so far implicates three of his closest colleagues.”Muscat said he had recused himself from the decision over Fenech, since the suspect under police interrogation had identified Schembri as the mastermind behind Caruana Galizia’s killing, according to sources.He later said in a statement that he had reported Fenech to the police for attempted blackmail, saying the mogul had threatened to implicate him in the affair if he was not given immunity.

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