Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Former Papua New Guinea deputy fails to mount challenge

By ABC PNG correspondent LIAM FOX

There have been tense scenes inside and outside Papua New Guinea's parliament amid speculation of a move to topple the prime minister.

Scores of heavily armed police patrolled the parliament precinct where the gates were closed to the general public and a large crowd chanted for the police to let them in.

Inside former deputy prime minister Puka Temu took a seat on the opposition side of the house with two other former ministers.

The trio defected from the government yesterday to a coalition made up of opposition MPs and smaller parties.

Mr Temu held discussions yesterday with opposition MPs at a resort outside Port Moresby.

Question time was tense with a lot of shouting and fist pumping but the new opposition group did not follow through with a threat to move a motion of no confidence against prime minister Sir Michael Somare.

 

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