5 Aug 2003

Foreign soldiers in Solomon Islands not to go to Honiara shops

9:09 am on 5 August 2003

The head of the intervention force in Solomon Islands says it is not a sensible look to have armed soldiers in Honiara and this is why soldiers have been instructed not to shop in the capital.

Nick Warner says they don't want a large number of armed soldiers wandering the capital's streets.

He says it is just too bad a look to have such a big military footprint in Honiara at this stage of the operation.

Mr Warner says the ban is unlikely to be permanent.

"the view is that for the present it wouldn't be a sensible look but I think as things settle down as the operation matures that sort of sensitivity will dissipate"