Crowd at PNG PM's election rally turns violent

1:44 pm on 22 June 2017

Papua New Guinea's prime minister had to be whisked to safety after an angry crowd stormed an election rally yesterday.

Peter O'Neill was campaigning for his People's National Congress party in Tari, the capital of Hela province.

PNG PM Peter O'Neill

PNG PM Peter O'Neill Photo: AFP / Peter Parks

But the crowd turned violent and started throwing stones, and Mr O'Neill had to be rushed to the safety of a helicopter.

PNG Loop reports the police responded with tear gas.

The finance minister James Marape, who was with Mr O'Neill, blamed opposition leader Don Polye for seeding hatred when he was last in Tari.