The Australian government on Thursday welcomed the election of Derek Sikua as the Solomon Islands' new prime minister.
Sikua, the opposition candidate, defeated the outgoing Sogavare government's candidate, Foreign Affairs Minister Patteson Oti, by 32 votes to 15 in the 47-member Parliament earlier on Thursday.
Sikua replaces Manasseh Sogavare, who lost a no-confidence vote last week.
Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith has congratulated Sikua and said he was looking forward to working closely with the Solomon Islands under its new prime minister.
"The Solomon Islands government faces tough challenges in key areas," Smith told Australian Associated Press.
"Australia is committed to assisting the Solomon Islands, through the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) and our bilateral aid program, to build a prosperous and sustainable future," he said.
The Sogavare government has clashed with the former Australian government, who lost the federal election last month, over the RAMSI, accusing it of interfering in the Pacific nation's domestic affairs.
RAMSI was deployed on July 24, 2003 to help the Solomon Islands government restore law and order after years of violence in the Pacific country.
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