Lawmakers from Malta’s ruling Labour Party stood by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat on Sunday but did not indicate what he may do next as he faces pressure to quit amid a crisis sparked by the investigation into a murdered journalist.

The party's parliamentary group met for four hours, saying afterward that lawmakers gave "unanimous support to all decisions which the Prime Minister will be taking".

Calls for Muscat to step down grew after the probe into the 2017 car bomb killing of anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia led to charges on Saturday against a prominent businessman with alleged ties to ministers and senior officials.

Yorgen Fenech, 38, was taken to a Valletta court late on Saturday and charged with complicity in the murder. He pleaded not guilty to that and other charges.

The prime minister was thought to be preparing to announce his departure but seeking to stay in office until a successor is chosen, according to local media and government officials close to Muscat. Those same sources said he is likely to stay on until the party holds a leadership election in mid-January.

Fenech was charged after the government turned down his request for immunity from prosecution in return for revealing information about the murder plot and about alleged corruption involving Muscat’s former chief of staff Keith Schembri and former Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi, among others, court filings showed.

Schembri and Mizzi resigned on Tuesday and Schembri was interrogated for two days by police before being released without charge. Schembri has denied any wrongdoing. Mizzi on Tuesday denied any business links with Fenech and any wrongdoing.

Maltese civil society organisations were due to hold a protest in Valetta, the capital of the tiny Mediterranean archipelago, on Sunday afternoon to call on Muscat to go immediately.

"This is far from over. This is just the beginning. Joseph Muscat is still put, still protecting his best friend Keith Schembri. Because by protecting Schembri, Muscat is protecting himself," activist group Repubblika, one of the organisers of the protest, said on Sunday.

"We must keep up the pressure, The truth is coming out. Now we must strive for justice," it added.

Caruana Galizia's family called on Saturday for Muscat to step aside.

Critics are angry with Muscat for sticking by Schembri, an old friend since school, and including Schembri in security briefings on the murder investigation even after Fenech was identified both as a suspect in the murder and an associate of Schembri.

Cardona returns

The Labour Party statement after its meeting on Sunday also said Chris Cardona, the economy minister who suspended himself from his duties on Tuesday after having been mentioned by a suspect in the investigation, has now been reinstated in his position.

Cardona has denied any involvement in the plot and has denied any corruption or wrongdoing.

Caruana Galizia had reported that Schembri and Mizzi had set up secret companies in Panama. She also reported how another company, called 17 Black, was meant to be a vehicle to deposit funds into those companies. Following her murder, an investigation by Reuters and Times of Malta showed Fenech as having been the owner of 17 Black.

Mizzi has denied any business ties to Fenech or knowledge of 17 Black or any criminal activity.

Schembri has always denied any wrongdoing. Speaking on Saturday for the first time since his arrest, he denied being the author of a type-written letter that Fenech told police he secretly received after his arrest. Fenech said the letter told him to pin the blame for the murder on another government minister.

“I immediately denied that the letter came from me when the police were interrogating me and I stand by that completely,” Schembri told the Times of Malta.

Lawmakers from Malta’s ruling Labour Party stood by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat on Sunday but did not indicate what he may do next as he faces pressure to quit amid a crisis sparked by the investigation into a murdered journalist.

Lawmakers from Malta’s ruling Labour Party stood by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat on Sunday but did not indicate what he may do next as he faces pressure to quit amid a crisis sparked by the investigation into a murdered journalist. The party's parliamentary group met for four hours, saying afterward that lawmakers gave "unanimous support to all decisions which the Prime Minister will be taking". Calls for Muscat to step down grew after the probe into the 2017 car bomb killing of anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia led to charges on Saturday against a prominent businessman with alleged ties to ministers and senior officials. Yorgen Fenech, 38, was taken to a Valletta court late on Saturday and charged with complicity in the murder. He pleaded not guilty to that and other charges. The prime minister was thought to be preparing to announce his departure but seeking to stay in office until a successor is chosen, according to local media and government officials close to Muscat. Those same sources said he is likely to stay on until the party holds a leadership election in mid-January. Fenech was charged after the government turned down his request for immunity from prosecution in return for revealing information about the murder plot and about alleged corruption involving Muscat’s former chief of staff Keith Schembri and former Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi, among others, court filings showed. Schembri and Mizzi resigned on Tuesday and Schembri was interrogated for two days by police before being released without charge. Schembri has denied any wrongdoing. Mizzi on Tuesday denied any business links with Fenech and any wrongdoing. Maltese civil society organisations were due to hold a protest in Valetta, the capital of the tiny Mediterranean archipelago, on Sunday afternoon to call on Muscat to go immediately. "This is far from over. This is just the beginning. Joseph Muscat is still put, still protecting his best friend Keith Schembri. Because by protecting Schembri, Muscat is protecting himself," activist group Repubblika, one of the organisers of the protest, said on Sunday. "We must keep up the pressure, The truth is coming out. Now we must strive for justice," it added. Caruana Galizia's family called on Saturday for Muscat to step aside. Critics are angry with Muscat for sticking by Schembri, an old friend since school, and including Schembri in security briefings on the murder investigation even after Fenech was identified both as a suspect in the murder and an associate of Schembri. Cardona returns The Labour Party statement after its meeting on Sunday also said Chris Cardona, the economy minister who suspended himself from his duties on Tuesday after having been mentioned by a suspect in the investigation, has now been reinstated in his position. Cardona has denied any involvement in the plot and has denied any corruption or wrongdoing. Caruana Galizia had reported that Schembri and Mizzi had set up secret companies in Panama. She also reported how another company, called 17 Black, was meant to be a vehicle to deposit funds into those companies. Following her murder, an investigation by Reuters and Times of Malta showed Fenech as having been the owner of 17 Black. Mizzi has denied any business ties to Fenech or knowledge of 17 Black or any criminal activity. Schembri has always denied any wrongdoing. Speaking on Saturday for the first time since his arrest, he denied being the author of a type-written letter that Fenech told police he secretly received after his arrest. Fenech said the letter told him to pin the blame for the murder on another government minister. “I immediately denied that the letter came from me when the police were interrogating me and I stand by that completely,” Schembri told the Times of Malta.

Malta's ruling party lawmakers back embattled prime minister

Malta's prime minister convened an emergency meeting Sunday as pressure mounted for him to quit over his handling of the murder probe of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

The meeting came a day after the main suspect in the 2017 car bomb killing, tycoon Yorgen Fenech, was charged with complicity in the murder and had his assets frozen by a court.

The investigation has rocked the southern Mediterranean island and reached the highest rungs of politics.

Critics have accused Labour premier Joseph Muscat, 45, of protecting those involved in Caruana Galizia's murder.&nbsp;

The scandal has already claimed the scalps of Muscat's top aide Keith Schembri and two ministers.&nbsp;

Police sources said Fenech identified Schembri as the "real mastermind" behind the killing.&nbsp;

Muscat's departure date was likely to be the focus of Sunday's emergency meeting of ministers and MPs, a senior Labour source told AFP.

"The prime minister has said from the outset that he will leave no stone unturned to solve this despicable murder under his watch and he delivered exactly that with the arraignment of someone who is believed to have commissioned the murder," the source said.

"His exit has been on the cards for a while and he feels that now is the best time to bow out and allow fresh blood to take up on the extremely positive results delivered by Joseph Muscat in the six years at the helm."

On Saturday, party insiders told AFP that Muscat would step down at the latest on January 18 when the Labour Party is set to hold an election for his successor.

Caruana Galizia's family and protesters have taken to the streets and called for Muscat to resign.

However, he repeatedly insisted he would remain in power until the case was "closed".

'One-woman Wikileaks'

Caruana Galizia, a popular journalist and blogger described as a "one-woman WikiLeaks", exposed cronyism and sleaze within the country's political and business elite.

She accused Schembri of corruption along with tourism minister Konrad Mizzi and economy minister Chris Cardona, all three of whom stepped down last week.

Leaked emails revealed in court indicated that both Schembri and Mizzi stood to receive payments from a Dubai company called 17 Black, owned by Fenech.

The murder probe gained momentum following last week's arrest of the tycoon whose business interests span the energy, casinos and tourism sectors.

His detention came after an alleged middleman in the murder, taxi driver Melvin Theuma, was offered a pardon to identify others who were involved.

Schembri, Muscat's former chief of staff, was arrested Tuesday but his release on Thursday sparked accusations of a cover-up.

Anti-government protesters were set to hold fresh rallies outside the parliament in Valletta on Sunday.

A Maltese court is expected to rule Monday on a request by Fenech for the chief investigator in the case, Keith Arnaud, to be removed, amid allegations he also had close ties to Schembri and the prime minister.

Malta's prime minister convened an emergency meeting Sunday as pressure mounted for him to quit over his handling of the murder probe of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Malta's prime minister convened an emergency meeting Sunday as pressure mounted for him to quit over his handling of the murder probe of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. The meeting came a day after the main suspect in the 2017 car bomb killing, tycoon Yorgen Fenech, was charged with complicity in the murder and had his assets frozen by a court. The investigation has rocked the southern Mediterranean island and reached the highest rungs of politics. Critics have accused Labour premier Joseph Muscat, 45, of protecting those involved in Caruana Galizia's murder. The scandal has already claimed the scalps of Muscat's top aide Keith Schembri and two ministers. Police sources said Fenech identified Schembri as the "real mastermind" behind the killing. Muscat's departure date was likely to be the focus of Sunday's emergency meeting of ministers and MPs, a senior Labour source told AFP. "The prime minister has said from the outset that he will leave no stone unturned to solve this despicable murder under his watch and he delivered exactly that with the arraignment of someone who is believed to have commissioned the murder," the source said. "His exit has been on the cards for a while and he feels that now is the best time to bow out and allow fresh blood to take up on the extremely positive results delivered by Joseph Muscat in the six years at the helm." On Saturday, party insiders told AFP that Muscat would step down at the latest on January 18 when the Labour Party is set to hold an election for his successor. Caruana Galizia's family and protesters have taken to the streets and called for Muscat to resign. However, he repeatedly insisted he would remain in power until the case was "closed". 'One-woman Wikileaks' Caruana Galizia, a popular journalist and blogger described as a "one-woman WikiLeaks", exposed cronyism and sleaze within the country's political and business elite. She accused Schembri of corruption along with tourism minister Konrad Mizzi and economy minister Chris Cardona, all three of whom stepped down last week. Leaked emails revealed in court indicated that both Schembri and Mizzi stood to receive payments from a Dubai company called 17 Black, owned by Fenech. The murder probe gained momentum following last week's arrest of the tycoon whose business interests span the energy, casinos and tourism sectors. His detention came after an alleged middleman in the murder, taxi driver Melvin Theuma, was offered a pardon to identify others who were involved. Schembri, Muscat's former chief of staff, was arrested Tuesday but his release on Thursday sparked accusations of a cover-up. Anti-government protesters were set to hold fresh rallies outside the parliament in Valletta on Sunday. A Maltese court is expected to rule Monday on a request by Fenech for the chief investigator in the case, Keith Arnaud, to be removed, amid allegations he also had close ties to Schembri and the prime minister.

Malta PM holds emergency talks as pressure to quit mounts

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Malta's ruling party lawmakers back embattled prime minister

Malta PM holds emergency talks as pressure to quit mounts