This story is developing and will be updated.

APNU+AFC MP Charrandass Persaud has voted in favour of the PPP/C motion of no-confidence throwing the House into uproar.

His vote means that new general elections would have to be called and there will be a premature end to the APNU+AFC term in office.

The sitting was stalled as the apparently stunned government side tried to figure out the way ahead and to have Persaud change his vote. Persaud later repeated at least four times that he had voted in favour of the PPP/C’s motion of no-confidence.

His shock vote came after PPP/C Chief Whip Gail Teixeira had called for a division to ascertain the votes of the each MP.

The voting came at the end of nearly seven hours of gruelling debate on the PPP/C’s motion which had had the political class on tenterhooks.