SYDNEY, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Tensions are set to crescendo in the Pacific nation of Papua New Guinea in the coming week after the nation's supreme court ordered parliament to hear a vote of no confidence motion against Prime Minister Peter O'Neill.
PNG's national parliament was suspended only moments before a vote of no confidence against O'Neill was to be heard on June 8 following clashes between student protestors and police that resulted in more than a dozen injuries.
Opposition leader Don Polye was forced to take the matter to the court as the August reconvene would then not allow another no-confidence vote against O'Neill. A vote must be heard before July 27 due to laws stipulating votes of no confidence cannot be conducted within 12 months of the national election.
Local television station EMTV News reported the court ruled in Polye's favour on Tuesday, ordering parliament be recalled within five days to debate the motion of no confidence against O'Neill.
"(The Supreme Court justices) said Acting Parliamentary Speaker, Aide Ganasi, acted in an unconstitutional manner and denied the rights of fellow members of parliament in adjourning parliament and not acting on the motion on June 8 of this year," the broadcaster reported.
O'Neill's office did not immediately respond to Xinhua's request for comment.
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