Access to Great Siege monument blocked, sparking anger among Caruana Galizia activists

Updated 3.35pm with minister's explanation Scaffolding and hoarding has been erected around the Great Siege monument, which has served as a memorial to slain journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia for almost a year. The lower part of the historic monument will be undergoing restoration, Culture Minister Owen Bonnici explained in a Facebook post later.  The minister reproduced images of the lower part of the Antonio Sciortino monument and wrote: "the pictures speak for themselves". All traces of a memorial to Ms Caruana Galizia were earlier removed from the Great Siege Memorial monument yet again, ahead of an official ceremony on Saturday morning which saw the President lay a wreath at its foot to mark Victory Day. Steel barricades and a red carpet were set up at the site opposite the law courts. Wreaths placed there on Thursday evening have been kept intact. The monument has been used as an makeshift memorial site for the murdered journalist by activists and supporters over the past months, despite the staunch – and vocal – opposition of government officials.It was most recently cleared on Wednesday night, as authorities worked to ensure the official monument was clear for a...