6 Jul 2004

Uproar in PNG over further attempts by the Speaker to change MPs seating arrangements

8:23 pm on 6 July 2004

The Papua New Guinea Parliament was in uproar on Tuesday morning after the Speaker, Jeffrey Nape, directed MPs to move seats.

Mr Nape had first tried to relocate some MPs last week, sparking Opposition calls for his resignation.

When Parliament resumed, Mr Nape tried to have Milne Bay Governor Tim Neville move from his regular seat on the Opposition benches to join other members of his split United Resources Party which is within the Government coalition.

But Mr Neville resisted as our correspondent Peter Niesi reports.

"so the Speaker started to order the Sergeant of Arms to try and remove him back to his original seat amid an uproar of Government MPs yelling points of order points of order - that interaction continued for close to ten minutes ..."

Peter Niesi, who says there were two further confrontations between the Speaker and the handful of Opposition MPs at the Parliament.

He says the rest remained at Alotau where they have been for the past 3 days preparing plans to try and topple the Prime Minister.