Solomons PM leaves capital to await peacekeepers

3.00pm

UPDATE - HONIARA - Solomon Islands Prime Minister Allan Kemakeza has left the capital, Honiara, for a secret location due to security concerns and will only return when peacekeepers arrive, his office said on Wednesday.

"There are fears there may be a last attempt (to disrupt the peacekeeping operation)," a government official told Reuters.

An Australian-led multinational peacekeeping force of 2225 troops and police begins arriving in Honiara on Thursday to restore order after years of fighting between ethnic militias.

Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC) said Kemakeza left Honiara on Tuesday night after appearing on a nationally broadcast radio programme, due to fears ex-militia may attempt to kidnap him.

"Sir Allan Kemakeza left the capital in a hurry. A convoy of security vehicles sped Sir Allan to the patrol boat base in Honiara and he hoped aboard one of the patrol boats. The patrol boat then set out to sea," said an ABC reporter in Honiara.

"There appeared to be some concern that ex-militants might try and kidnap Sir Allan," he said.

A statement from Kemakeza's office on Wednesday made no mention of the prime minister being whisked away, but expatriates and government officials drinking at the city's Point Cruz Yacht Club on Tuesday night reported seeing a patrol boat leave a nearby jetty.

The statement merely said: "The prime minister of the Solomon Islands left Honiara last night but will return to Honiara on Thursday. For security reasons his present location will remain confidential".

The Solomon Islands parliament last week sanctioned the peacekeeping deployment, the biggest military operation in the South Pacific since World War 2, in a last ditch bid to save the nation from becoming a bankrupt, failed state.

Clashes between militias from Guadalcanal and Malaita islands over land disputes have left the 1000-island chain virtually lawless, with beheadings, torture and extortion commonplace.

The first defence personnel deploying to the Solomons left New Zealand today.

The 16 staff flew out of Ohakea air base for Townsville in northern Queensland. They will leave there for Honiara on Thursday.

The group that left today included the New Zealand Senior National Officer, Wing Commander Shaun Clarke and Wing Commander Ron Thacker who will be Air Component Commander for the operation.

Others leaving today would form the basis of the New Zealand headquarters in the Solomons.

Defence Minister Mark Burton told the departing troops that they would play a key role in restoring law an order to the troubled islands.

Starting Friday, there would be daily flights between Ohakea air base and Honiara with all defence personnel and equipment scheduled to be in the Solomon Islands by August 1.

New Zealand is sending 35 police and 105 military to join a 2000-strong Australian-led intervention force.

The New Zealand troops, along with others from Australia and other Pacific countries, will be farewelled at Townsville on Thursday by Prime Minister Helen Clark and the prime ministers of Australia, Papua New Guinea and Tonga.

The Solomons Parliament has unanimously endorsed a plan for the intervention force to help restore law and order and rebuild public services.

New Zealand already has 10 police officers stationed in the Solomons. They will become part of the deployment of 35 police officers.

Defence force staff were expected to remain in the Solomons for about four months. Police could be there for as long as two years.

The military effort will be made up of:

* four helicopters, with 65 personnel

* up to 25 support personnel, spread across headquarters duties, logistics, communications and intelligence

* a 12-strong engineering element

* a medical aid and humanitarian assistance group (about three people).

A 125-strong defence force infantry company would be placed on standby in New Zealand to assist if required. Involvement would cost $7 million to $10 million, depending on whether the infantry were activated.

- REUTERS and NZPA