A small Solomon Islands police team is expected to depart Honiara for the Weather Coast this afternoon to bolster the police presence there.
Police on the Weather Coast have kept a low profile since rebel leader Harold Keke's supporters attacked Oqio and Biti villages earlier this week, killing at least four people.
The police spokesman Charles Lemoa says police have been trying to avoid confronting Keke and his men since the attacks on Tuesday.
Meanwhile he says police understand that the group of six Melanesian Brothers taken hostage by Keke several weeks ago remain his captives.
