11 May 2005

Solomons government brushes aside Malaita group's death threats against PM

8:16 pm on 11 May 2005

Authorities in Solomon Islands are urging people on the island of Malaita to ignore an alleged militia group which is threatening to kill the prime minister, Sir Allan Kemakeza.

The group of boys, which is reportedly called the Malaita Fools, and claims to have a high-powered weapon, has given the prime minister 12 days to step down.

The prime minister's spokesman, Alfred Maesulia, says the premier of Malaita province, Ruben Moli, is brushing the threats aside.

"He's not trying to meet with them and discuss with them what they want because he's worrying about the whole island of Malaita during the last tension they've been without services, and the people were just too badly treated, and he said now that this group was coming up again, he's just trying to ask people to discourage them."

Mr Maesulia says such death threats are nothing new.