The Nationalist Party said yesterday that surgeon Anthony Zammit, who operated on Labour leader Alfred Sant some weeks ago, had used the operation to promote his candidature as a Labour Party candidate at the general election.

Mr Zammit on Thursday addressed the Labour Party general conference and drew comparisons between the fact that Dr Sant had chosen to be operated on in Malta, while President Eddie Fenech Adami, when Prime Minister, had chosen to go to the United States for treatment.

The PN said this was obscene and pointed out that Dr Fenech Adami had gone to Mayo Clinic on the advice of his doctors because his diagnosis had not arrived at a conclusion.

At Mayo Clinic Dr Fenech Adami had been examined by Maltese specialist Michael Camilleri, who recommended the operation. Other operations were carried out on Dr Fenech Adami in Malta, the PN said, accusing Mr Zammit of being disloyal and using the operation he had conducted for partisan aims.