Australia demands Solomons hand over law chief

SYDNEY - Australia demanded today that the Solomon Islands hand over its chief legal officer, in hiding after his arrest on child sex charges, as uneasy relations between the two South Pacific neighbours deteriorated.

The diplomatic row escalated as fears grew of renewed violence and political instability in the troubled island nation.

Solomon Islands Attorney-General Julian Moti was arrested in the Papua New Guinea capital Port Moresby last week at the request of Australia, a major aid donor to the Solomons which sent troops and police to quell rioting in April.

Moti was released on bail but failed to appear at a court hearing on Saturday, sparking a police hunt. A PNG court has ordered he be taken back into custody.

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Moti was hiding in the Solomon Islands High Commission in Port Moresby and demanded he be handed over for extradition.

"We'll hope that the Solomon Islands government does the right thing here," Downer told reporters in Adelaide.

"I don't think somebody facing child sex charges should be protected in anybody's embassy or high commission anywhere in the world," he said.

Moti's arrest has further strained relations between the Solomons and Australia, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare describing it as a serious violation of Solomons sovereignty.

Honiara expelled Canberra's top diplomat in the country last month after a wrangle over an inquiry into the April riots.

Australia has already warned its citizens to exercise caution in the Solomons, saying that political tensions have risen ahead of the resumption of the Solomons parliament today.

The Solomons opposition had been expected to move a vote of no-confidence in Sogavare's government today but the vote was put off until later in the week.

Australia has also warned about increased gang crime in Honiara.

On Saturday, the head of a Christian Reformed Churches of Australia mission in Honiara suffered cuts and other injuries and a Solomons man was hurt in a gang attack on the mission.

Mission head Kevin Rietveld said a Seventh Day Adventist mission had also been attacked at the weekend.

"There's been an escalation in recent times and I spoke with the police commissioner just yesterday and he's actually quite concerned," Rietveld told Australian Broadcasting Corp radio.

The Solomons has accused Australia of bullying by imposing visa restrictions on visiting Solomons politicians after Sogavare expelled the Australian high commissioner, accusing him of courting opposition lawmakers and undermining a government-ordered inquiry into the April riots.

Since 2003, Australia has led a Pacific-wide aid mission to stamp out corruption and restore law and order in the Solomons after it came close to collapse amid ethnic violence and mismanagement.

More than 500 troops and police were rushed to Honiara after national elections sparked the April riots, which targeted the tiny Chinese business population amid rumours that aid money from Taiwan was used to help influence the election result.

Australia has earmarked an A$840 million ($952.74 million), four-year aid package for the Solomons, including A$72 million in humanitarian aid this year.

- REUTERS