The island nation of Vanuatu in the South Pacific Ocean is without a government through a paperwork blunder.

Prime Minister Edward Natapei has lost his seat after missing three consecutive sittings without notifying the speaker. Mr Natapei was attending a Commonwealth summit in Trinidad and Tobago, while his cabinet went into emergency talks.

According to the constitution of Vanuatu, he cannot regain his seat. The island nation will be ruled by a caretaker government until parliament elects a new prime minister next week. The Pacific Institute of Public Policy think-tank said an MP had lost his seat for the same reason in the 1980s, despite a legal appeal.