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DATE=6/14/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SOLOMONS COUP - LONLY
NUMBER=2-263459
BYLINE=DANA ROBERTSON
DATELINE=CANBERRA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The prime minister of Solomon Islands, 
Bartholomew Ulufa'alu - kidnapped and then released by 
rebels last week - has resigned.  Dana Robertson 
reports from Canberra, the resignation meets the main 
demand made by the Malaita Eagle rebels when they 
seized control of the capital, Honiara, 10 days ago.
TEXT: The prime minister's resignation has come 
earlier than expected.  He submitted his letter of 
resignation to the governor-general Tuesday night.  It 
is expected to take effect late Wednesday.
Mr. Ulufa'alu will stay on as caretaker prime minister 
until the parliament meets to elect a new leader.  The 
Solomons parliament was to meet Thursday, but the 
governor-general, John Eni Lapli, has announced that 
the scheduled session has now been cancelled.  It is 
understood he will consult with the parliament speaker 
to decide when parliament should resume.
In a reference to the coup leaders of the Malaita 
Eagle Force, the governor-general has appealed for 
those in charge of security in the capital to allow a 
peaceful atmosphere to prevail, so that parliament can 
meet.  Government members, who have endorsed Mr. 
Ulufa'alu's resignation, are expected to place a 
number of demands on the Eagle Force to ensure that 
the parliament's decision on a future government, is 
not made under duress.
The instability in the Solomon Islands has drawn 
cautious concern from the region's main powers: 
Australia and New Zealand.  Australian Prime Minister 
John Howard says despite the prime minister's 
resignation, he is not prepared to send Australian 
military personnel or police to the Solomons to try to 
restore peace.
            /// HOWARD ACT ///
It is the overwhelming view of the countries of the 
Pacific region that this issue should be resolved 
without the intervention of he foreign forces.  We 
want a democratic solution and we hope that a 
democratic solution emerges.
            /// END OPT ///
New Zealand's foreign minister, Phil Goff, says he 
regrets Mr. Ulufa'alu's resignation, but he hopes it 
might lead to all parties working together to solve 
the crisis.
The Malaita Eagles' capture of the capital last week 
caps 18 months of fighting with the Guadalcanal 
islanders over land rights on the country's main 
island, Guadalcanal. (signed)
NEB/HK/DR/JO-T/JO
14-Jun-2000 02:19 AM EDT (14-Jun-2000 0619 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.