South-Pacific News Updates - Three Nauru presidents in a week

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Three Nauru presidents in a week

Agence France Presse - November 17, 2011

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The tiny Pacific nation of Nauru has selected a new president, its third in a week, after Freddie Pitcher was ousted in a vote of no confidence.

A government spokesman says government MP Sprent Dabwido switched allegiance to the opposition and was appointed president late on Tuesday after defeating Mr Pitcher 9-8 in a parliamentary vote.

The move came just five days after Mr Pitcher became president when his predecessor, Marcus Stephen, quit amid corruption allegations that he called "unwarranted and mischievous".

Mr Dabwido, a former telecommunications minister, was expected to announce his new cabinet yesterday, the government spokesman said.

Nauru is one of the smallest nations in the world with less than 10,000 residents.