OMEN
04-19-2006, 08:45 AM
http://network.news.com.au/image/0,10114,5141697,00.jpg
Eruption ... a police vehicle burns during the violent protests.
A 2000-STRONG mob has marched on Government House in the Solomon Islands and threatened to tear up the capital unless new Prime Minister Snyder Rini stepped down within the hour.
After 24-hours of carnage primarily in the Chinatown district, the mob marched on government house and gave authorities a 1700 AEST deadline for Mr Rini to leave.
Hundreds of protesters then went to the Pacific-Casino Hotel in Chinatown, which had been attacked early in the morning, and torched vehicles belonging to a rental car company there.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said that Australian security forces would probably have to be ready to deal with "contingencies" in the Solomon Islands for some time to come.
Prime Minister John Howard announced today that Australia would send additional security forces to the Solomon Islands.
"I don't have great optimism of us being able to get out of the Solomon Islands," Mr Downer said on Southern Cross Broadcasting today."I would have thought for quite a time into the future we are going to have to have a reasonably high readiness in order to deal with contingencies."
The news comes after 17 Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers were injured in rioting last night.
Fresh violence in the capital Honiara overnight, including the burning of shops and other buildings, forced the Government to consider a military deployment.
Mr Howard said 110 soldiers from Townsville would leave on four RAAF C130 transport planes today and arrive in the Solomons tonight.
An extra 70 AFP members would also be sent there, he said.
Mr Downer said that Australia had done the right thing in withdrawing most of its troops from the Solomons in late 2004, despite the current flare-up.
"We've drawn them down on the ground in the Solomon Islands and moved them back to Townsville," he said on Sky News.
"We've kept them on 24-hour notice so we've always been ready to redeploy them very quickly if we have to.
"As you can see, we made the decision this morning to redeploy them.
"Starting at about 2.30pm this afternoon from Townsville, 110 soldiers of a unit that has been in readiness for just this eventuality will go to the Solomon Islands," Mr Howard said.
"They will be joined by some 70 additional Australian Federal Police officers and that will represent an immediate and needed injection of additional security forces to the Solomon Islands."
Mr Howard, who was speaking in Brisbane, said the commitment followed a written request from the Solomon Islands Government.
The AFP also sought back-up after its officers were hurt.
It is understood one officer will be flown back to Australia on Friday for further treatment.
Speaking on Macquarie radio before his announcement, Mr Howard said of the injured officers: "There are no life-threatening injuries, but a number of officers have required surgery."
One injured AFP officer was left with a possible fractured skull and a broken jaw; another had a dislocated shoulder and others had minor injuries.
The trouble in Honiara began when protesters accused Chinese businessmen of bribing members of the government and backing yesterday's election of new Prime Minister Snyder Rini.
Early today, Mr Howard said: "We have a long-term commitment to the security of the Solomon Islands and we are absolutely determined that the Solomon Islands will be a stable democratic country and that can only happen if we go the distance.
Mr Howard said there was no indication that the riots targeted the Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands.
"The information I have is that it is an outbreak of hostility to the result of the election," he said.
"There's no evidence of any hostility to Australia."
Yesterday's violence was the worst unrest in the capital since Australia, New Zealand and other Pacific governments intervened in 2003 to end years of bloody ethnic gang conflict.
The AFP has 282 officers in the Solomons.
The violence is the worst unrest in Honiara since Australia, New Zealand and other Pacific governments intervened in 2003 to end years of bloody ethnic gang conflict.
Australian police are also facing allegations they aggravated the situation by firing tear gas at protesters who claim yesterday's poll which elected Snyder Rini as Prime Minister was rigged.
Mr Howard said all the additional forces would be on the ground in Honiara by tonight.
He said he was pleased Australia had been able to respond immediately to the request from the Solomons government.
"This has become necessary because local unrest in the wake of the election of a new prime minister," Mr Howard said.
"I have no doubt that the sending of these forces will not only provide much needed support to those already there but will send a strong message to those engaging in unlawful behaviour.
"We want to see the development of a stable, democratic, corruption-free Solomon Islands."
Mr Howard said he expected other countries might also send security forces to the Solomons.
He said he would hold talks this afternoon with New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark.
AAP
Eruption ... a police vehicle burns during the violent protests.
A 2000-STRONG mob has marched on Government House in the Solomon Islands and threatened to tear up the capital unless new Prime Minister Snyder Rini stepped down within the hour.
After 24-hours of carnage primarily in the Chinatown district, the mob marched on government house and gave authorities a 1700 AEST deadline for Mr Rini to leave.
Hundreds of protesters then went to the Pacific-Casino Hotel in Chinatown, which had been attacked early in the morning, and torched vehicles belonging to a rental car company there.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said that Australian security forces would probably have to be ready to deal with "contingencies" in the Solomon Islands for some time to come.
Prime Minister John Howard announced today that Australia would send additional security forces to the Solomon Islands.
"I don't have great optimism of us being able to get out of the Solomon Islands," Mr Downer said on Southern Cross Broadcasting today."I would have thought for quite a time into the future we are going to have to have a reasonably high readiness in order to deal with contingencies."
The news comes after 17 Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers were injured in rioting last night.
Fresh violence in the capital Honiara overnight, including the burning of shops and other buildings, forced the Government to consider a military deployment.
Mr Howard said 110 soldiers from Townsville would leave on four RAAF C130 transport planes today and arrive in the Solomons tonight.
An extra 70 AFP members would also be sent there, he said.
Mr Downer said that Australia had done the right thing in withdrawing most of its troops from the Solomons in late 2004, despite the current flare-up.
"We've drawn them down on the ground in the Solomon Islands and moved them back to Townsville," he said on Sky News.
"We've kept them on 24-hour notice so we've always been ready to redeploy them very quickly if we have to.
"As you can see, we made the decision this morning to redeploy them.
"Starting at about 2.30pm this afternoon from Townsville, 110 soldiers of a unit that has been in readiness for just this eventuality will go to the Solomon Islands," Mr Howard said.
"They will be joined by some 70 additional Australian Federal Police officers and that will represent an immediate and needed injection of additional security forces to the Solomon Islands."
Mr Howard, who was speaking in Brisbane, said the commitment followed a written request from the Solomon Islands Government.
The AFP also sought back-up after its officers were hurt.
It is understood one officer will be flown back to Australia on Friday for further treatment.
Speaking on Macquarie radio before his announcement, Mr Howard said of the injured officers: "There are no life-threatening injuries, but a number of officers have required surgery."
One injured AFP officer was left with a possible fractured skull and a broken jaw; another had a dislocated shoulder and others had minor injuries.
The trouble in Honiara began when protesters accused Chinese businessmen of bribing members of the government and backing yesterday's election of new Prime Minister Snyder Rini.
Early today, Mr Howard said: "We have a long-term commitment to the security of the Solomon Islands and we are absolutely determined that the Solomon Islands will be a stable democratic country and that can only happen if we go the distance.
Mr Howard said there was no indication that the riots targeted the Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands.
"The information I have is that it is an outbreak of hostility to the result of the election," he said.
"There's no evidence of any hostility to Australia."
Yesterday's violence was the worst unrest in the capital since Australia, New Zealand and other Pacific governments intervened in 2003 to end years of bloody ethnic gang conflict.
The AFP has 282 officers in the Solomons.
The violence is the worst unrest in Honiara since Australia, New Zealand and other Pacific governments intervened in 2003 to end years of bloody ethnic gang conflict.
Australian police are also facing allegations they aggravated the situation by firing tear gas at protesters who claim yesterday's poll which elected Snyder Rini as Prime Minister was rigged.
Mr Howard said all the additional forces would be on the ground in Honiara by tonight.
He said he was pleased Australia had been able to respond immediately to the request from the Solomons government.
"This has become necessary because local unrest in the wake of the election of a new prime minister," Mr Howard said.
"I have no doubt that the sending of these forces will not only provide much needed support to those already there but will send a strong message to those engaging in unlawful behaviour.
"We want to see the development of a stable, democratic, corruption-free Solomon Islands."
Mr Howard said he expected other countries might also send security forces to the Solomons.
He said he would hold talks this afternoon with New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark.
AAP