Second Pacific nation succumbs at gunpoint

By BRONWYN SELL and STAFF REPORTERS

They call themselves Eagles and yesterday they swooped, taking power at gunpoint, sealing off the Solomon Islands from the outside world and pushing the Pacific nation to the brink of civil war.

Armed members of the rebel Malaitan Eagle Force, backed by the mainly Malaitan police paramilitary group the Seagulls, raided the main police weapons armoury in Rove at dawn.

The rebels put the Prime Minister, Bartholomew Ulufa'alu, a fellow Malaitan, under house arrest at his home and demanded his resignation.

During an hour-long siege the rebels confiscated police patrol boats, cut off the nation's telephones and forced the suspension of flights.

Residents of Honiara, the capital on Guadalcanal island, woke to find the force patrolling the streets and were warned by the mayor, Ronald Fugui, not to leave their houses.

Businesses and banks remained closed all day, a Solomon Island man told the Herald last night.

"The streets of Honiara today were virtually empty," said Walter Nalangu, of SIBC News.

"You only see one or two people after every five or so hundred metres, as well as vehicles moving around the capital."

Hours after the Malaitan Eagles staged their coup, a rival group of Guadalcanal rebels raided an Australian-owned gold mine, stealing some vehicles and equipment.

First reports said the Isatabu Freedom Movement had seized up to 40 people at the Delta Gold Ltd gold mine, 30km from Honiara, which employs New Zealanders as well as Australians.

However, a spokeswoman for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs said all the workers were safe.

"No one is being held hostage," she said.

Delta Gold chief executive Terry Burgess confirmed that his staff were safe but some of the company's vehicles and equipment had been stolen from the mine.

Mr Burgess said members of the Isatabu Freedom Movement had taken over the police post 15km from the mine, broken into the armoury and taken some weapons.

Some time later, he said, mine vehicles and equipment were stolen.

Mr Burgess said armed Isatabu Freedom Movement members were maintaining a presence at the mine.

Even so, operations were continuing and employees were not facing any immediate danger.