New political stand-off in PNG

Papua New Guinea saw more political drama on Wednesday, when the acting governor-general suspended a ceremony to swear in the newly elected prime minister.

Peter O'Neill had travelled to Government House to be sworn in after parliament elected him unopposed as prime minister.

The acting governor-general, Geoffrey Nape, walked into the swearing-in ceremony and said it would be suspended while he studied the official documents.

Then he walked out.


Perturbed

A slightly perturbed looking Mr O'Neill told Mr Nape's secretary the parliament had directed him to conduct the ceremony.

There was no response and Mr O'Neill said: "We'll wait."

Mr O'Neill was voted in a day after the post was declared vacant in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling that Sir Michael Somare was the legitimate leader.

Mr O'Neill was the only candidate nominated for the position and won the vote in the national parliament 56-0.

Prevent

The deputy speaker, Francis Marus, first tried to prevent Mr O'Neill and Sir Michael from nominating.

He said they were at the heart of the country's political crisis.

But he backed down after MPs threatened a motion of dissent.

Parliament was then adjourned and Mr O'Neill went to Government House to be sworn in by the acting governor-general.

His rival, Sir Michael, is not in Port Moresby and his supporters say the vote in parliament is unconstitutional.

Mr O'Neill has been the country's effective prime minister amid the political turmoil of the past few months.

Parliament sat to elect a prime minister after the deputy speaker Marus on Tuesday upheld a Supreme Court ruling that Sir Michael Somare was PNG's legitimate leader - before declaring the office vacant because Sir Michael had missed three sittings of parliament.