A campaigner for more open government is calling for people to challenge Progressive Labour Party election candidates caught up in the Bermuda Housing Corporation allegations.

Khalid Wasi believes Premier Ewart Brown and candidates Dame Jennifer Smith, Nelson Bascome, Zane DeSilva and El James ¿ all named in relation to unproven claims in leaked Police files ¿ should not stand for election.

He hopes representatives from his organisation, the All Bermuda Congress (ABC), will mount challenges in these constituencies and other marginal seats on December 18.

The Police probe into allegations of corruption at the BHC did not result in criminal charges against any political figures. However, it prompted Kulandra Ratneser, the island's top prosecutor at the time, to publically state that unethical behaviour involving elected officials had been unearthed. He did not name those he was referring to.

In recent weeks, judges from the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and the Privy Council have all ruled against a bid by Government and the Police to gag the media over reporting more from the leaked dossier.

The parties, who claim the files are stolen, lost the final round of the court battle at the Privy Council a week ago. On Friday, hours before Dr. Brown, who denies any wrong doing in relation to the BHC issue, called a General Election, former PLP supporter Harold Darrell outed himself as the source of the publicity.

Mr. Wasi said: "My personal view, having read Mr. Harold Darrell's submission ¿ and I should add that I felt so even prior ¿ is I believe that all those persons who are linked in that unethical conduct should absent themselves from any upcoming election. They probably will not, but since the word principle has been used recently a lot, I think out of principle they should not enter their names to a ballot box."

Mr. Wasi said of the ABC's potential election challenge: "We like so many Bermudians on all sides also believe in the cause, but we believe in integrity, without which the cause cannot be justly served.

"I'm asking for ten brave, intelligent, resourceful people to also think of the cause of creating a greater Bermuda, more equitable, more open more accountable, and more democratic, where all people can have a feel good factor that can be shared.

"It is a moral challenge for a few intellectuals to stand up now, put some integrity into the PLP, limit this administration's current hold (and) corner enough seats to deny both parties the opportunity of running the Country with their extreme polarities. I can't do it alone. I won't attempt to do it alone. The Country needs you now," he said.

Mr. Wasi declined to comment on how many members the ABC currently has.