[Zebra 3]

MONTREAL (CP) - The Rhinoceros party is trying to fight its way back from political extinction with a $50-million lawsuit against the federal government.

Self-appointed party president Brian "Godzilla" Salmi filed suit in Federal Court in Montreal Tuesday over the 14-year-old election reform laws that stripped the Rhinos of registered party status.

Salmi says he will run under the Rhino banner in a federal byelection in Montreal's Outremont riding, slated for Sept. 17.

The party lost status after federal electoral reforms came into effect in 1993 requiring parties to run candidates in at least 50 ridings at a cost of $1,000 each.

Salmi promises to rename the country Nantucket, if elected.

He has legally changed his name to Satan and, officially, the lawsuit is filed under Satan versus Her Majesty The Queen.