Coalition partner agrees to Vanua'aku request for by-election

Vanuatu's Graon Mo Jastis Party says it won't stand a candidate in the upcoming Tanna by-election.

The party's leader Ralph Regenvanu has confirmed this is in response to a request by a fellow government coalition party, the Vanua'aku Pati.

A by-election is to be held next month after the Vanua'aku Pati's President Joe Natuman lost his parliament seat.

Mr Natuman was earlier found guilty of attempting to pervert the course of justice and given a suspended two-year sentence.

His party intends to stand a candidate who could hold the seat until the next general election in 2020 when Mr Natuman hopes to return.

The Vanua'aku Pati and the Graon Mo Jastis Party are the two biggest parties in the government led by Charlot Salwai.