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Security forces in the Solomon Islands were on alert last night after MPs ousted Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, ending a 20-month rule that saw relations with Australia hit rock bottom.
Police and soldiers, including from an Australian-led law and order mission, were patrolling the capital, Honiara, after a majority of MPs turned on Mr Sogavare in a vote of no confidence.
Mr Sogavare came to power in May last year in the wake of devastating riots sparked by the election as Prime Minister of Snyder Rini, who days later was forced to quit.
Mr Sogavare's political demise - amid Opposition claims he had become a dictatorial ruler - is likely to please Canberra.
The Opposition, which is set to form a new government, has promised to extradite Solomon Islands Attorney-General Julian Moti, an Australian lawyer wanted in Australia on child sex charges.
Mr Sogavare's ousting also paves the way for a new chapter in bilateral relations, which soured under Mr Sogavare's 20-month term.
He had branded Australia a regional bully and accused it of using its lead role in the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (Ramsi) to achieve its political objectives for the small country.
Opposition Leader Fred Fono, who accused Mr Sogavare of arrogance and sending the Solomons' international reputation plummeting, said MPs would vote on a new Prime Minister in the next few days after a new government was formed.
Mr Fono is a candidate for the post, as is former education minister Derek Sikua. Another is former finance and Treasury minister Gordon Darcy Lilo, who defected from the Government last month.
Mr Sogavare said yesterday he accepted the vote of 25 to 22 against him, was proud to have served the nation and was "stepping out in humility".
But he did not go easily.
He had earlier gone to the High Court seeking to delay yesterday's sitting of Parliament and the no-confidence motion, but the court dismissed the case, calling it frivolous and vexatious.
When MPs filed into the chamber, he was offered the chance to resign but refused, insisting his leadership be put to the vote.
"Parliament voted me in and Parliament voted me out," he later said.
Mr Sogavare's ousting will be welcomed by Australian Federal Police, who had been frustrated by his refusal to extradite his close friend Moti.
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, speaking in Bali where he is attending climate-change talks, said his Government was "absolutely committed" to bringing Mr Moti back to Australia to face trial.
Mr Sogavare had been under pressure since nine of his ministers and three backbenchers deserted his Government early last month.
- AAP
