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Solomons' PM Held Hostage in Coup
The leader of the Solomon Islands' Labor Party says the country's Prime Minister has been held captive since 6:00am , June 5 as part of a coup unfolding in the capital, Honiara.
Joses Tuhanuku, a former Solomon Islands' MP who is presently in Canberra, says he was in contact with colleagues in Honiara before phone lines were cut off. He says the coup was sparked by similar events in Fiji and he has been told a group calling themselves the Malaita Eagle Force is responsible.
"There are two ethnic groups that have been in conflict over land issues and it's not very clear yet over what the demands are and who may be really responsible, but the little bit I heard from home is that the Prime Minister has been held since 6:00am," he said.
The office of Foreign Minister Alexander Downer says Australia has been in contact with sources from the Solomon Islands' Government.Mr Downer is expected to make a more detailed statement later today.
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