The Pacific Ocean nation of Vanuatu is in political chaos after 14 policymakers were found guilty of corruption but were then pardoned by one of their own while the president was abroad.

The events have created a constitutional crisis for President Baldwin Lonsdale, who promised he would find a legal avenue to "clean up the mess".

On Friday, parliament speaker Marcellino Pipite and 13 others were found guilty of bribery by the Supreme Court.

A judge said many had accepted bribes of £5,800 to help overthrow the previous government.

The next day, Mr Pipite signed a pardon for himself and the others. Because the president was away, Mr Pipite was the acting head of state.

"Vanuatu's credibility has been tarnished throughout the world, and as head of state, I am deeply sorry to see this," Mr Lonsdale said.

Mr Pipite said he signed the pardons out of concern for the nation's interests rather than his own.

"I decided to make such orders to maintain the peace, unity, in this country," he said.

The move has angered many people in Vanuatu, who turned out in large numbers to hear the Supreme Court verdicts. Many hoped the verdicts would mark an end to the corruption which has plagued the country's political system.