DATE=6/30/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SOLOMONS POL (L)
NUMBER=2-263921
BYLINE=GRACE CUTLER
DATELINE=HONG KONG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The Solomon Islands has elected a new Prime
Minister (Friday), in the hopes he will bring
stability to the strife-torn South Pacific nation.
Grace Cutler has more from VOA's Asia News Center.
TEXT: Addressing parliament Friday after his victory,
Mannasseh Sogavare pledged his government will be one
of national unity and reconciliation. The former
opposition leader was elected in an emergency session
of parliament by a vote of 23 to 21.
/// OPT /// Another candidate, Francis Billy Hilly,
withdrew from the election in order not to split the
government vote. /// END OPT ///
Mr. Sogavare replaces Bartholomew Ulufa'alu, who
resigned two weeks ago after armed rebels seized the
capital, Honiara, in an attempted coup. Mr. Ulufa'alu
was briefly held at gunpoint, then released. His
captors, from nearby Malaita island -- were angry over
moves by indigenous residents of the Solomons' main
island, Guadalcanal, to expel thousands of migrant
Malaitan workers.
/// OPT /// Friday's vote took place at parliament
amid tight security, with all but six of the 50
lawmakers in attendance. A vote scheduled for
Wednesday was called off because government lawmakers
boycotted due to safety concerns. /// END OPT ///
The election of the new Prime Minister is expected to
bring calm to the island, struck by sporadic violence
which has left up to 60 people dead.
Malaitan rebels have warned that new fighting could
break out if the impasse over land rights is not
resolved quickly. There was no immediate reaction from
the group about the choice of the new leader, although
the rebels had said they were satisfied with all the
candidates. (signed)
NEB/HK/GC/JO/PLM
30-Jun-2000 05:56 AM EDT (30-Jun-2000 0956 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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