EDMONTON — Alberta Tory leadership contender Lyle Oberg was suspended indefinitely from caucus and stripped of his cabinet post Thursday over remarks he made about Premier Ralph Klein.

Deputy premier Shirley McClellan made the announcement after an emergency meeting at the legislature that lasted well into the evening.

The furore arose after Oberg told his constituency association in Brooks he wouldn't ask members to support Klein during an upcoming leadership review.

He also said Klein's order that ministers wishing to succeed him leave cabinet by June 1 was "a bombshell" and could backfire.

"If I were the premier, I wouldn't want me as a backbencher," Oberg told the meeting, which was covered by the Brooks & County Chronicle newspaper. "I know where the skeletons are."

Oberg is quoted as telling the meeting that he was prepared to form an official opposition to the Klein government with the support of right-wing colleagues.

He later said his comments were made in the heat of the moment.

"I have no problem saying I was upset and I was hot. Do I regret some of the things I said? I do," Oberg said.

Oberg was unavailable for comment after the emergency meeting, but was expected to make a statement Friday.

He can apply to get his job back as transportation and infrastructure minister after six months.

A spokeswoman for Klein said Wednesday the premier was aware of Oberg's remarks, but had no plan to fire him.

"The premier said sometimes people say things they shouldn't and they regret it and he accepts that, but he's part of this team and they will get through it," Marisa Etmanski said.

Klein was not at the emergency meeting.

He faces a review of his leadership by party delegates on March 31 in Calgary. He has said he plans to stay on as premier until early 2008, depending on the results of the vote.