Papua New Guinea wakes up to two Prime Ministers

Governor-General Michael Ogio will uphold a Supreme Court ruling and swear in Sir Michael Somare, who was toppled while he was in Singapore for heart treatment, as the legitimate prime minister of Papua New Guinea.



However Mr Peter O'Neill, who replaced Mr Somare, is recognised by parliament as the legitimate prime minister and has rejected the court ruling, refusing to step down.

It remained unclear whether Mr O'Neill would recognise the swearing in, having been prevented by heavily-armed police from reaching the governor-general yesterday night to be sworn in after parliament again elected him prime minister.

Today, the speaker of the parliament also rejected the court ruling, saying Mr O'Neill was the legitimate prime minister having been constitutionally elected by parliament.

The political standoff, with Mr O'Neill in parliament and Mr Somare in a beachside hotel in the capital Port Moresby, has prompted calls for calm in the dusty port, much of which is controlled by gangs called "raskols".

"We have been urging calm on the part of all parties. The Papua New Guinea Defence Force has been directed to remain in barracks ... Violence would help nobody," Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd told Australian radio.

ORIGINAL SOURCE
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