Solomon Islands' opposition boycotts Deputy Speaker election

The opposition in Solomon Islands boycotted Tuesday's election of the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, in protest at three of its MPs being held in custody, according to reports reaching Wellington.

Radio New Zealand International said Tuesday the vote was the first test of the strength of the Government of Prime Minister Snyder Rini since his selection last week sparked massive rioting.

The Government's nominee for Deputy Speaker, former prime minister, Sir Allan Kemakeza, won the vote in the 50-member parliament 25 to nil.

Monday's swearing in of newly-elected MPs was the first session of Parliament since violent mobs rampaged in Honiara following MPs ' election of Rini as Prime Minister, amid corruption allegations. Rini has rejected the allegations.

Radio New Zealand International said personnel from the Regional Assistance Mission for Solomon Islands (RAMSI) kept Parliament locked down, preventing members of the public from approaching.

The opposition said RAMSI's actions placed MPs under duress in the performance of their duties.

However, New Zealand's Pacific Affairs Minister Phil Goff, who will visit the Solomons on Thursday, has praised the actions of RAMSI, which arrived in 2003.

Goff said Monday the peacekeeping force has kept conditions stable, and the situation would have been far worse without its presence.

Source: Xinhua