Protesters have briefly upheld debate on a new forestry bill in Papua New Guinea's parliament.
The news agency, Australian Associated Press, reports members of the non-governmental institutions, Greenpeace and the Eco-Forestry Forum, along with landowner representatives, staged the protest during question time yesterday.
In response to a question from the Alotau MP Isaac Taitibe, the Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare, refused to consider sacking Forestry Minister Patrick Pruaitch over the controversial bill.
The Eco-Forestry Forum and has waged a campaign against government plans to change sections of the Forestry Act.
The Forum says the proposed changes would take away the rights of landowners, provincial governments and local MPs in having a say on logging proposals.
