[WATCH] Valletta protest: Labour MPs blocked by protestors

Protestors once again gathered outside parliament calling for Joseph Muscat’s immediate resignation while the Prime Minister delivered what could be his last speech in parliament.

Labour MPs were blocked from exiting parliament on Monday evening as Freedom Square, Ordinance Street, Republic Street, and Castille Square were all blocked by a flash mob that took police by surprise. With no way out, Labour MPs were stuck with their drivers inside the parliament building with cries of 'mafia' and 'assassins' in the background. 

Protestors outside parliament demand Joseph Muscat’s immediate resignation

When trying to exit via Ordinance Street, Labour MPs and some ministers, including Gozo minister Justyne Caruana, were met with a pelting of eggs, carrots, fake money and coins. 

In the confined and heated space, Nationalist MP Karol Aquilina and parliamentary secretary for sport Clifton Grima came to blows and had to be physically separated by ministers' drivers. 

Most of the square outside parliament was taken up by metal barricades erected by police ahead of the protest.

The protest asked for justice in the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder investigation and for Muscat to resign. The protest drew thousands of people to Valletta.

Today’s protest was once again organised by rule of law NGO Repubblika, Occupy Justice and Manuel Delia. This comes in the wake of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat announcing on Sunday that he will step down from office on 12 January, when the Labour Party elects a new leader.

Muscat claimed that he would stay on to assure stability in the country.

Tonight's protest is the latest in a series of incensed demonstrations since Yorgen Fenech, Tumas group businessman, was arrested in conjunction with the Caruana Galizia murder investigation.

Fenech was arraigned and charged with masterminding the murder on Saturday. He had business links with Muscat's former chief of staff Keith Schembri via his Dubai company 17 Black and the latter's Panama structure.