19 Jul 2012

National Alliance's Arthur Somare loses his seat in PNG general elections

4:27 am on 19 July 2012

The National Alliance's Arthur Somare has lost the Angoram seat in Papua New Guinea's general election.

After the vote went down to third preferences, the Pangu Pati's Ludwig Patrick Schultz emerged as winner.

Arthur Somare held the seat since 1997.

His father Sir Michael Somare is on track to retain the East Sepik regional seat but his National Alliance party has lost two seats in its East Sepik stronghold in the past day.

The party so far leads in seven seats while the People's National Congress of caretaker Prime Minister Peter O'Neill leads overall vote counting, ahead in 26 of the 111 seats.

Independents lead in 18 seats, including two of the 26 electorates to be declared so far.