6 May 2003

Election challenge already in Southern Highlands

4:25 pm on 6 May 2003

In Papua New Guinea, the winner of the elections in the Southern Highlands town of Tari is already having his victory challenged.

Tari was one of six Highlands seats where elections were being re-run under tight security after polls last year were declared invalid due to violence and intimidation.

Tom Tomiape of the People's Action Party was declared the winner on Sunday.

But the runner up, James Marabe, says he has instructed his lawyers to take action as he believed the votes in least two ballot boxes should not be counted.

Mr Marabe says election officials chose to ignore concerns raised by the candidates' scrutineers.