18 May 2009

PNG police deploy special squads to quell anti-Chinese violence

1:08 pm on 18 May 2009

Squads of heavily armed police have been called in to protect Chinese-run businesses in Papua New Guinea.

Looting and anti-Chinese violence started in the capital Port Moresby and Lae last week and spread over the weekend into the Highlands region and Madang Province.

A police spokesperson, Dominic Kakas, says there's still tension in a number of areas.

"We've increased the police presence in the main centres where we expect that incidents might occur. We've got additional manpower there to monitor the situation, that's in Madang, Kainantu, Goroka, and the NCD city."

Dominik Kakas says the situation is under control in Port Moresby and Lae, and many Chinese businesses have re-opened.