29 Apr 2006

Solomon Island police investigate what caused last week's riots in Honiara.

11:49 am on 29 April 2006

Solomon Island police say an investigation taskforce is trying to establish what caused last week's riots in Honiara.

Violence broke out in Honiara after the election of Snyder Rini as Prime Minister, following accusations that his win was the result of bribery from Chinese and Taiwanese business communites.

Mr Rini has since resigned.

Police say the taskforce will investigate what and who caused the riots, and what is behind them.

Several mobs burned much of Chinatown and destroyed selected targets owned by either ethnic Chinese or Chinese people.

Hundreds of those affected by the riots have left Solomon Islands for countries like China and Australia.