16 Aug 2011

Clashes rock Mendi in PNG's Southern Highlands

2:48 pm on 16 August 2011

There are reports of violent clashes in Papua New Guinea's Southern Highlands capital, Mendi.

The newspaper, The National, reports that supporters of a reappointed provincial administrator, William Powi, fought with those backing the sidelined acting administrator Lawrence Olkoben, using sticks, stones and bush knives.

An unspecified number of people were wounded and property was damaged.

All government offices and shops in town closed as the violence, with the head of police saying those involved in the clashes showed no respect for the law and other people of Southern Highlands.