Solomons welcome Australian troop reduction

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has welcomed the withdrawal of Australian troops after last month's riots.

Australia's Defence Minister, Brendan Nelson, announced yesterday Australia would start withdrawing some of the almost 400 troops it deployed.

Mr Sogavare said according to a security assessment by the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomons Islands (Ramsi), the troops can now be withdrawn, leaving only 130 soldiers.

He said the government only had Ramsi's assessment to rely on because it had not been given an intelligence briefing.

The troops were flown in from Australia to reinforce numbers on the ground after the riots on May 18th, 19th sparked by unrest following the elections.

New Zealand has about 190 police and troops in the Solomons as part of Ramsi.

- RADIO AUSTRALIA, HERALD ONLINE STAFF