Military coup reported in Papua New Guinea

[icymist]

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (AP) – There are unconfirmed reports that a military coup has taken place in the capital of Papua New Guinea.

Australian Broadcasting Corp. News in Australia is reporting that soldiers loyal to ousted former prime minister Sir Michael Somare have staged a bloodless mutiny.

ABC said that early Thursday morning, about a dozen soldiers are believed to have raided the defense force headquarters and placed the head of the army, Brigadier General Francis Agwi, under house arrest.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/story/2012-01-25/papua-new-guinea-coup/52794946/1?csp=34news

[ellisonz]

1. Michael Somare

Sir Michael Thomas Somare, GCL, GCMG, CH, CF, KStJ, MP (born 9 April 1936) was Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea from 2002 to 2011; he had previously been Prime Minister from independence in 1975 until 1980 and again from 1982 until 1985. Somare's first two terms were as a member of the Pangu Party, but he then became leader of the National Alliance Party. He was re-elected as Prime Minister in the 2007 election, and his family announced his resignation due to ill health in June 2011.

On 12 December 2011, the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea ordered that Somare be reinstated as Prime Minister, ruling that his successor, Peter O'Neill, was not lawfully appointed.[2]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Somare

[pampango]

2. BBC: Papua New Guinea soldiers' mutiny stopped - Peter O'Neill

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill says an attempted mutiny in Port Moresby by up to 20 soldiers has been put down.

The soldiers said they had had taken control of the country's military HQ, and demanded the reinstatement of ousted PM Sir Michael Somare.

But Mr O'Neill said that defence chief Brig Gen Francis Agwi, who was arrested during the mutiny, was now free.

He told ABC News lead mutineer Colonel Yaura Sasa was being "dealt with". However, he declined to explain what that would entail.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16739277

May be spin from O'Neill or may be what has really happened. We should know shortly.