There has been a sudden change in stance by lawyers representing ousted PM Laisenia Qarase and others, as they said in court today that they no longer wished to challenge the executive privileges of the President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo.

Queens Counsel, Nye Perram revealed in Court this morning that they will withdraw various paragraphs in their statement of claim where they are challenging the executive privileges empowered upon the President.

Perram said they are forced to take this step because neither the President nor his personal Secretary Rupeni Nacewa or the Commander will be called into the witness box and thus will not be cross-examined and they will not be able to prove the claims in the statement by the SDL members.

QC representing the President and others, Gerard McCoy expressed frustration and said that it appears that they have been deliberately wrong footed over the long weekend, not wasting just their time but the time of the three judges as well.

McCoy said that they spent the last 72 hours preparing to argue the topic and the sudden change in stance totally contradicts what Perram had said last week, that the President's executive privileges is a matter that needs to be clarified by the Court.

He said the plaintiffs had taken a high horse approach on the matter and now have fallen off.

The case has been adjourned to 3o'clock this afternoon for the Counsels to submit amended submissions and statements of claims.

Meanwhile, when the case resumed this morning Qarase's lawyer, Nye Perram alleged that one of the lawyers who is part of the Court proceedings had his vehicle blocked off and was sworn at by some man.

He said they will not say anything else on the issue but are just raising their concern.

Justice Anthony Gates said that this was an unusual occurrence and stressed that all persons must be allowed to go about their business without any interference.