By Elizabeth Looi, Malaysia Correspondent

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin of the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) - buoyed by a High Court ruling on Monday that he was the rightful Perak Menteri Besar - resumed his duties as chief minister yesterday, but for only about seven hours.

His rival for the post, Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir from Barisan Nasional (BN), won a stay of execution from the Appeals Court that allowed him to reclaim the title.

This meant that the state administration, already bewildered by three months of bitter fighting between the two political groups, is back with BN.

For more The Straits Times stories, click here.