31 July 2012 Last updated at 09:49 ET

Nauru profile

Political disputes dogged Marcus Stephen's time in office

President: Sprent Dabwido

Sprent Dabwido became Nauru's third president in less than a week on 15 November 2011 when his predecessor, Freddy Pitcher, lost a no-confidence vote.

The Pacific island's 18-member single-chamber parliament voted to remove Mr Pitcher by nine votes to eight and elected Mr Dabwido, a minister in Mr Pitcher's government who defected to join the opposition, in his stead.

Mr Pitcher had only been in office six days after succeeding the president since 2007, Marcus Stephen, who resigned amid corruption allegations.

The MP who tabled the no-confidence motion said Mr Pitcher's "personal agenda" did "not sit well" with MPs.

Mr Dabwido's elevation to the presidency completed a rapid rise to power. Born in 1972, he was elected to parliament in 2004 and in 2009 became telecommunications minister in Mr Stephen's government. In the office, he presided over the introduction of mobile phones to Nauru.

The period of turmoil that propelled him to the presidency came after a brief period of stability in Nauru's fluid politics. Marcus Stephen himself came to power when his predecessor, Ludwig Scotty, lost a no-confidence vote in December 2007.

Soon after, with parliament deadlocked over his budget, Mr Stephen declared a state of emergency and dissolved the legislature, going on to to win snap elections in April 2008.

He was re-elected for a second term by parliament in November 2010, after another protracted phase of political deadlock that two inconclusive general elections, in April and June, had failed to resolve.

The government continued to govern under a state of emergency until both sides agreed to form a coalition. Under the deal, former President Ludwig Scotty became speaker of parliament.

Under Nauru's constitution, the president is both head of state and head of government.