Malta Prime Minister Joseph Muscat talks to reporters in Valletta, Malta, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019. Malta authorities arrested prominent businessman Yorgen Fenech, who appears to be a 'person of interest' in the assassination of leading investigative reporter Daphne Caruana Galizia, killed by a powerful car bomb in October 2017. (AP Photo/Jonathan Borg)
The Associated Press
VALLETTA, Malta (AP) - The Latest on Malta's politics amid public pressure for truth on reporter's slaying (all times local):
8:20 p.m.
Malta's prime minister says he will resign in January following pressure from citizens for the truth about the 2017 car bombing that killed a journalist.
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, in a televised message Sunday night, said he has informed the nation's president that he will quit as leader of the governing Labor Party on Jan. 12 and that "in the days after I will resign as prime minister."
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4:25 p.m.
Malta's embattled prime minister has received a pledge of confidence from Labor Party lawmakers amid demands for his resignation by citizens angry over alleged links of his former top aide to the car bomb killing of a Maltese anti-corruption journalist.
The ruling Labor Party parliamentary group on Sunday expressed 'œunanimous support'ť for Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, in power since 2013, and 'œdecisions he will be taking.'ť
Maltese media have said Muscat might stay in office till January, when a party congress must elect a new leader.
His former chief of staff Keith Schembri was linked to the 2017 killing of Daphne Caruana Galizia. He was among the government members targeted by her investigative reporting. Schembri, who resigned last week, was arrested in the probe but later released. He denies wrongdoing.
Undated file photo of Malta Prime Minister Joseph Muscat's former chief of staff Keith Schembri, who was arrested this week for questioning as a person of interest in the October 2017 car-bomb murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. After languishing for two years, the investigation has moved swiftly since a Maltese businessman was arrested on a private yacht trying to flee Malta last week. The businessman, Yorgen Fenech, provided information about Muscat's ex-chief of staff, Keith Schembri, reportedly in a bid to win immunity. (AP Photo/str)
The Associated Press
Protesters hold photos during a protest outside the office of the Prime Minster of Malta by civil groups Occupy Justice and Republica Friday, Nov. 29, 2019 in Valletta, calling for the resignation of Malta Prime Minister Joseph Muscat after his chief of staff Keith Scembri was arrested and questioned regarding the murder of slain journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. Muscat said Friday that police found no grounds to hold Keith Schembri, his former chief of staff in custody. (AP Photo/Rene Rossignaud)
The Associated Press
Maltese businessman Yorgen Fenech, who was taken into custody by police last week as he was trying to flee the island, leaves court after being questioned in the 2017 bomb blast that killed investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia as she drove near her home, in Valletta, Malta, Friday, Nov. 29. 2019. (AP Photo/str)
The Associated Press