Transport Minister Joe Mizzi has lost a libel case he had filed against Alleanza Liberali leader John Zammit.

Mr Mizzi had filed the libel suit in January 2011. He had claimed that allegations about him published on a website were defamatory.

Magistrate Francesco Depasquale said there was no evidence that Mr Zammit had written these comments. He also said the comments were not libellous. The Magistrate said politicians should be more tolerant once they are public figures. Their every word and action is open to sctrutiny by the media and the public. Everyone should have the right to express their opinion about the behaviour of politicians without fear of facing court proceedings.

In the meantime, Mr Zammit celebrated his ‘victory’ on Facebook. He wrote: “another VICTORY for me this morning when Joe Mizzi now Minister for Transport lost his second criminal libel against me.” In other posts Mr Zammit said he will win a third libel case instituted by Mr Mizzi for a "hat-trick."