Bomb threat precedes provincial assembly event in PNG

7:11 pm on 16 January 2018

A heavy security presence was expected at today's swearing-in ceremony for the Southern Highlands provincial assembly in Papua New Guinea.

A number of high profile politicians, including the prime minister and MP for Ialibu Pangia, Peter O'Neill, were being sworn-in at the event in Mendi.

Our reporter, Melvin Levongo, said a bomb threat was issued ahead of today's ceremony.

"An anonymous caller has called one of the assembly members and threatened to bomb the Agiru centre where the ceremony will take place. No official report has been filed yet to the police, but heavier security presence is expected."

Also being sworn in as provincial assembly members were Works Minister and Mendi MP Michael Nali, the Minister for Higher Education , Research Science and technology, Pila Niningi and Provincial Governor William Powi, as well as other members of parliaments and local level government presidents.

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