S'pore opposition plans alliance

S'pore opposition plans alliance

SINGAPORE (AFP): Eight Singaporean opposition parties have been holding talks aimed at forming an alliance to fight the next general elections, the Sunday Times here reported.

However, the eight parties have been unable to agree on their agenda, sharing resources or fielding common candidates under one banner, the report said.

It quoted Yip Yew Weng, president of the National Solidarity Party (NSP), as saying: "We have been talking to each other for six to eight months, and NSP has been working on the idea for quite some time."

The opposition parties have made unsuccessful attempts in the past to challenge the ruling People's Action Party, which has ruled the city-state since it attained statehood in 1965.

The next general elections in Singapore are due by August 2002 but there has been speculation the government could call the polls earlier.