Solomons to put case for troops to stay

By MARY-LOUISE O'CALLAGHAN Herald correspondent

New Zealand troops will be needed to stay longer in the Solomons than originally planned, Helen Clark will be told during a brief visit today to the troubled state.

The case for longer military intervention will be put to the Prime Minister and Defence Minister Mark Burton during their briefings with the senior officials of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands today.

The same officials told Australian Defence Minister Robert Hill last week that despite early successes, the process of disarming and capturing some criminal leaders was not yet over.

Speaking after his briefing, Mr Hill endorsed the need for a lengthier military deployment, describing the next phase of the intervention as likely to be the most difficult.

Helen Clark, who will visit New Zealand police and military staff during her seven-hour visit, has already conceded that the military component of the intervention will be on the agenda during today's talks.

"One concern has always been, what do you do next? It is a police-led operation and it's going to take a lot of patient contact on the ground to get the remaining weapons turned in.

"Otherwise, when you turn your back, the same old problems are there," she said shortly before her departure.

But she was cautious about whether she would agree to a deployment longer than the 90 days originally planned.

"I'll be looking for a first-hand briefing from our military as to how it's going," she said.

New Zealand has contributed about 230 military and 35 police to the Australian-led mission, which at present numbers about 2000.

Wellington and Canberra were initially at odds over the size of the deployment but last month it was agreed to send an extra infantry battalion from New Zealand.

This was after the need for combat troops - to provide security for the police as they set up regional police posts around the islands - moved faster than expected.

Helen Clark and Mr Burton will also talk with the Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Allan Kemakeza, and his Cabinet today.

Sir Allan yesterday used the Clark visit to fend off Opposition demands that he stand down as a discredited leader. "A visit tomorrow by New Zealand's Prime Minister Helen Clark and her Defence Minister Mark Burton is a further affirmation of support for Sir Allan's leadership," his office said.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard said last month during his own visit that he had found Sir Allan a good, straightforward man to deal with.