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19/04/2006 22:58:09 AEST Australian troop reinforcements arrive in the Solomons
Solomon Islands
In Depth
 
Smoke billows above the Pacific Casino Hotel in the Solomons. Tensions are high in the country, as protesters demand the new PM resign. [Radio Australia]
Australian reinforcements have arrived in Solomon Islands as a pall of black smoke from burning buildings hangs over the capital, Honiara.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard says he hopes the quick deployment of troops will bring stability to the region.

The prime minister says he acted after a request from the Solomons government.

Our reporter, Liz Foschia, says the troops are being joined by 80 additional Australian police officers, who have been equipped with riot gear.

Mr Howard says he doesn't believe the situation will deteriorate further but if more reinforcements are necessary, they will be sent.

Call for calm

The prime minister-elect of Solomon Islands, Snyder Rini, has appealed for calm after more than a day of violent protests over his election.

However, in a brief public statement, he has made no reference to demands for his resignation.

Thousands of protesters earlier marched on government house in the capital, Honiara, threatening widespread destruction if Mr Rini did not resign by 6 pm local time.

Police responded to the threat by imposing a 12-hour curfew until early Thursday morning.

After emerging from a meeting with his supporters and advisers, Mr Rini appealed to the residents of Honiara to remain calm.

The Governor General, Sir Nathaniel Waena, said it was up to Mr Rini to decide if he would address demands for him to step down.

Our correspondent in Honiara, Dorothy Wickham, says so far, there have been no further reports of incidents in the capital.

Honiara tense

The violence started on Tuesday after a parliamentary vote saw Snyder Rini elected the country's new prime minister.

Supporters of rival candidate, Job Dudley Tausinga, then took to the streets of the capital, Honiara, claiming the vote was fixed.

Seventeen Australian police officers were injured in the unrest.

Correspondents say the situation remains tense in the city.

Looting is continuing in the Chinatown district and some fires are still burning.

Residents have been advised to remain indoors.

Chinese businesses targeted

The violence in Honiara has been fuelled by strong anti-Chinese sentiment.

Anti-government protesters claim that Mr Rini is funded and influenced by Sir Thomas Chan, a naturalised citizen of Chinese origin.

The head of the government communications unit, Johnson Honimae, says Chinese-owned businesses have borne the brunt of the looting and ransacking.

He says many shops are owned by Chinese and some people are uncomfortable about that.

"This has been going for years now and all it takes is one of these little sparks and basically people turn on these Chinese who own most of the businesses here in the capital, Honiara."

NZ to boost security presence

New Zealand has also agreed to boost its security presence in Solomon Islands.

An additional 30 police and 25 army personnel will be dispatched early on Thursday aboard a New Zealand air force Hercules aircraft to join colleagues already based in Honiara.

The New Zealand Prime Minister, Helen Clark, says it is a disappointing setback to the efforts over the past few years to restore peace and stability in the country.

"Remember when we and other Pacific countries went in there, there was virtually a civil war going on between armed militias representing different parts of the Solomons," she said.

"Now we all got on top of that, working together with the Solomons government and police force and military.

"But this situation has arisen in the aftermath of the election of the prime minister yesterday, so we have to be prepared to deal with it."

ABC Asia Pacific TV / Radio Australia

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