Ex-PM Wins Solomon's Run-off Sparking Riots

Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published April 24, 2019 | 01:20 PM

The election of veteran politician Manasseh Sogavare as the new prime minister of the Solomon Islands sparked violent protests in the capital Honiara Wednesday, with riot police deployed in a bid to maintain order

Honiara, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Apr, 2019 ) :The election of veteran politician Manasseh Sogavare as the new prime minister of the Solomon Islands sparked violent protests in the capital Honiara Wednesday, with riot police deployed in a bid to maintain order.

Eyewitnesses reported unrest in Chinatown and at least one other area of the city after Sogavare won the backing of parliamentarians for a record fourth term in office.

Shops and offices closed and workers were advised to go home as police and community leaders appealed for calm.

Following an inconclusive election earlier this month, Sogavare won the backing of 34 of 50 members of parliament in a controversial run-off, with his opponents boycotting the vote.

In a brief statement, the 64-year-old said "God" had delivered the outcome.

"I wish to assure the nation that we are listening to what has been said, it has not fallen on to deaf ears," he said.

It is the first election on the self-styled "hapi isles" since thousands of Australian-led peacekeepers left in 2017, and there will be fears the islands' fractious politics will be reignited.