In a televised press conference, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil called for the 'removal' of Acting Police Commissioner Ray Zammit and Head of Communications at OPM Kurt Farrugia.

The Opposition had already asked for the enforced resignation of Home Affairs Minister Manwel Mallia.

These persons have been called to be removed from their posts following the publication by NET TV last night of the transcripts of phone calls involving Paul Sheehan, Dr Mallia's driver, the man who allegedly shot at Briton Stephen Smith following an accident involving the minister's car mirror.

Dr Busuttil also asked if Prime Minister Joseph Muscat had been informed about what was going on. It does not seem plausible, Dr Busuttil said, that Mr Farrugia did not immediately inform him about what had happened and what was going on.

As the PM's Head of Communications, Mr Farrugia was duty bound to inform his superior of what happened.

Dr Busuttil also invited the prime minister to publish the official log of his telephone conversations that night as proof he was not aware what was going on.

AD reiterates: Mallia must go and so must Kurt Farrugia ... as a start

"Assuming that the phone transcripts released by the PN media are authentic", Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson, Prof. Arnold Cassola, said: "We reiterate that Manuel Mallia must be forced to resign.  By 9.15 pm on that fateful evening he had communicated with his driver and he knew that Shehan had shot at body level.  Yet, together with the Prime Minister's aide Kurt Farrugia, he concocted a fairy tale whereby he declared that he had not spoken to his driver and then that the shots had only been fired in the air. Since the Minister has proved himself to be a big liar, after the firing of the bullet shots, it is time for the Minister to be fired now. The Prime Minister's aide should join him immediately until further responsibilities are ascertained. In the meantime, for the sake of truth and transparency, the PN should provide the enquiring Judges and magistrate with the original tapes of the telephone conversations".