30 May 2012

PNG parliament to elect new PM today in ongoing political turmoil

7:36 am on 30 May 2012

Papua New Guinea's parliament is due to sit again today to elect a Prime Minister after the position was declared vacant yesterday.

The acting Speaker has acknowledged last week's Supreme Court ruling that Sir Michael Somare was illegally removed as the country's prime minister in August last year.

He then immediately disqualified Sir Michael as a member of parliament for missing three consecutive sessions since January this year.

Our correspondent Titi Gabi reports that this current special sitting, called by the rival administration of Peter O'Neill, comes two weeks after parliament was officially dissolved ahead of general elections next month.

"And they adjourned. Then O'Neill wasn't in parliament but shortly after they adjourned he turned up and they had a caucus and the latest we hear is that they will put him up as a candidate when they resume (parliament) at 10AM."

Titi Gabi.