Nauru president ousted

MELBOURNE, Australia -- The tiny Pacific island state of Nauru has ousted President Bernard Dowiyogo amid talk of dodgy dealings.

The parliament ended Dowiyogo's sixth term in a vote of no confidence on Friday after concerns were raised about transactions by foreign banks.

Politicians voted to return former president Rene Harris to replace Dowiyogo, said an Australian spokeswoman for the Nauru government.

Harris is expected to announce his cabinet in the next two or three days, the spokeswoman said.

Tax haven blacklisted

Dowiyogo had been criticized for sitting on a request from Russian authorities for details on bank transactions conducted in the phosphate-rich country, Nauru MP Tony Audoa told Australia's The Age newspaper.

Audoa was one of 18 lawmakers who signed a letter demanding Dowiyogo recall parliament, which had not convened since June, so a no-confidence vote could be held.

Known as a tax haven, Nauru has been blacklisted by the Group of Seven rich nations' Financial Action Task Force.

It classified Nauru as one of 15 countries and territories failing to cooperate with efforts to clamp down on money laundering.

Dowiyogo suffered a blow last month when Australia's air safety authority grounded Air Nauru for nine days because its air safety certificates had expired.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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