PNG Parliament On Alert

USP Pacific Journalism Online: http://www.usp.ac.fj/journ/ USP Journalism on the Fiji crisis (UTS host): http://www.journalism.uts.edu.au/archive/coup.html USP Pasifik Nius stories on Scoop (NZ): http://www.scoop.co.nz/international.htm Have your say: http://www.TheGuestBook.com/vgbook/109497.gbook

THERE is a heavy police presence around the Papua New Guinea Parliament following reports of a planned protest by soldiers, reports ABC Online News.

Soldiers clashed with police in Port Moresby during the weekend, after police shot dead an off-duty soldier.

The soldier appears to have taken part in an armed robbery - he was shot dead by police during a pursuit.

That incident sparked a day of confrontation between soldiers and police, in which a police car was set on fire and soldiers surrounded a police station demanding revenge.

This morning, the Port Moresby street talk suggested soldiers were going to march on Parliament.

A major police operation was underway at Parliament as the House prepared to sit.

But the rumours seem to have scared off many MPs and the House has been adjourned for lack of a quorum.

Inquiries into the shooting and the subsequent protests are underway.

+++niuswire

© Scoop Media