Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin is battling to postpone new elections as his government is increasingly engulfed in a corruption scandal that threatens to gridlock government. Taking to the airwaves twice within 12 hours, Martin on Friday appealed to the public to allow time for a formal probe of money laundering, payoffs and kickbacks by party functionaries that has shook the foundations of his Liberal Party. But the Conservatives' opposition appear to be pushing for new elections as early as June 27, and have garnered control of the parliamentary agenda for May 19, when they are expected to pitch the new elections, The Toronto Globe and Mail reported. The last elections were just a year ago. Martin wants an ongoing inquiry to run its course and deliver a report, expected in December, before calling for new elections. "We are going to fight to keep the inquiry going and there's no doubt in my mind that the courts if, in fact, it came to that will allow the inquiry to keep going," Martin was quoted as saying on CTV's Canada AM programme Friday. "It's very, very important that the inquiry be allowed to continue its work." --More 2312 Local Time 2012 GMT
