Warring Solomon militias agree to peace deal

11:00 AM

Rival militias who have been fighting in Solomon Islands for two years today agreed to sign a peace deal.

The militias will seek help including peace monitors from New Zealand, Australia and other Pacific countries to ensure an end to the fighting, which has killed around 70 people in the former British colony, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation said.

The report gave no further details and no precise time for today's signing of the accord, agreed after five days of talks in Townsville, Australia.

Key issues in the peace talks have included compensation for those displaced from their land, disarmament and amnesty for militia members.

The militias came from neighbouring islands in the Solomons, 1,600 km northeast of Australia.

Tensions have simmered for decades, with people from the main Guadalcanal island resenting migrants from Malaita taking jobs and land.

- REUTERS