It was shameful that a minority of students and supporters of the Nationalist Party had been organised to disrupt the political debate at the University of Malta on Monday, the Forum Zghazagh Laburisti said.

This kind of activity was a serious threat to a democratic society which promoted tolerance, freedom of expression and thought, it said.

It was referring to the political debate at the university in which the leaders of the four political parties took part. The Nationalist students, the forum said, allowed no one to have their say except for Lawrence Gonzi, leader of the Nationalist Party.

It also was a pity, the forum added, that not only did Dr Gonzi not try to stop the intolerance the Nationalist students had shown, but appeared to be applauding it.