Irish opposition vows to put beleaguered government 'to the sword'

Ireland's main opposition party is to pull much of the cover it provides for MPs absent from parliamentary votes, raising another hurdle in front of the government's plans to cut the budget deficit.

Prime minister Brian Cowen's majority is in danger of shrinking to two seats after a member of his Fianna Fail party threatened to turn his back on the fast-sinking coalitiona on Saturday, a day after an independent MP withdrew his support.

Members of rival party Fine Gael usually agree not to vote on legislation if members of the government are absent from parliament, but said they would become stricter on the so-called "pairing arrangements" in order to force an early election.

"We're here to drive the government from office," Fergus O'Dowd, Fine Gael spokesman for education, told national broadcaster RTE. "The government hasn't got a clear majority, it can't rely on its backbenchers.

"We will hold an election as soon possible and put them to the sword on every vote we can."