Nauru MPs' suspensions legal: court

Nauru's Supreme Court has found the suspension of five opposition MPs from parliament was lawful.

In May, Roland Kun, former foreign minister Kieren Keke and Mathew Batsiua, were banned from the Pacific Island nation's parliament because they gave interviews to foreign journalists critical of the government.

Former president Sprent Dabwido and Squire Jeremiah were later suspended for opposing their colleagues' bans.

This left only three non-government MPs facing 11 from the government.

The group filed legal action challenging their suspensions arguing it was unconstitutional.

On Thursday, the court upheld the Speaker's actions and ruled it was legal for the parliament to withhold the MPs' salary and allowances.

"Parliament should be allowed to conduct its proceedings as it deems fit," the judges said, adding that the MPs could use the parliamentary process to appeal against the decision.