AAP Updates, O'Neill moves police to protect strategic institutions.
O'NEILL NOW GIVING ORDERS... |
At a press conference in parliament today, Mr O'Neill revoked a late night order by Sir Michael Somare to reinstate his police commissioner Fred Yakasa. "Seeking government from the barrel of a gun is unacceptable," Mr O'Neill told reporters. Peter O’Neill ... ordered in police."We don't do this in this country."
Mr O'Neill said 70 officers had been flown from areas outside Port Moresby and he expected it to grow to 200. He said he expected police to carry out their duty should Sir Michael refuse to leave, but stressed there was nothing stopping his minority government from coming to parliament.
"They refuse to come to parliament, because they don't think can run a minority government. "That's unacceptable in any democracy." Mr O'Neill said the officers would also seize the finance department, prime minister's department and government house.
He said he was not ordering the arrest of Sir Michael or his ministers. "I have no authority... to issue arrest warrants," he said. "(Somare and his supporters) are totally within their rights... to express their views. "But the police have got to do their duty."
There is a contingent of police officers loyal to Sir Michael in Port Moresby, however the majority of police have thus far been at pains to remain neutral. The nation's military has also remained neutral and largely silent.
Sir Michael had been expected to give a press conference on Thursday morning but it was put off until later in the afternoon without explanation.
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