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Resource-rich Papua New Guinea's governor general Wednesday swore in the government of veteran leader Sir Michael Somare, but his younger rival showed no sign of backing down in a tense standoff.
"My coalition members have today been sworn in by the Governor General, Sir Michael Ogio," Somare, who has led the sprawling and often violent country for almost half of its 36 years of independence, said in a statement.
"Despite the events of the last couple of days I am confident that common sense will prevail."
An AFP photographer at the ceremony confirmed the ministers were sworn into office, saying Sir Michael appeared relaxed, smiling at some of the ministers, a number of whom bowed to him or embraced him.
Impoverished PNG has been struggling to throw off its reputation as a politically dysfunctional and often lawless nation with a resources boom in the pipeline, but events of the past days have done little to alter the impression.
Both Somare, 75, and younger challenger Peter O'Neill, 46, claim to be the legitimate leader in a highly charged impasse that threatens to spill into chaos.
Although no significant unrest has been reported, O'Neill and his ministers stormed through a barricade manned by armed police at Government House to force a meeting with Ogio on Tuesday, but the talks failed to produce any resolution.
Somare was reinstated as leader on Monday when the Supreme Court ruled the election of O'Neill to the post by fellow lawmakers in August was unconstitutional.
But parliamentary speaker Jeffery Nape said during an emergency sitting of parliament Tuesday that he would only recognise O'Neill's government, which was installed when Somare was incapacitated by illness.
The O'Neill faction seems determined to stand its ground in what is the country's worst constitutional crisis since gaining independence in 1975.
As Ogio anointed the Somare government, reportedly after taking legal advice from the state solicitor's office, MPs loyal to O'Neill passed a motion in parliament demanding Ogio come to parliament to swear in O'Neill as leader.
O'Neill's leader of government business, Moses Maladina, also introduced a bill requiring police commissioner Tom Kulunga to "assist" the governor general in getting to parliament, Australian Associated Press reported.
The MPs also passed a motion to ban Somare and his cabinet from declaring themselves as the nation's government.
Somare said the decision of the governor general should be respected.
"It is important that we have another 36 years and more of stability by recognising and respecting the different arms of government, the judiciary, the legislature and the executive," he said.
"We will be facing the general elections soon and people of Papua New Guinea can then play their role in electing members of parliament that will once again represent their interests in parliament.
"For now, my government will ensure that good decisions taken in the absence of a legitimate government are carried forward and other changes that need to take place are implemented before we move into the election period next year."
Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith said he expected the controversy to be resolved peacefully, and ruled out any possible intervention from Canberra.
"We want to see these matters resolved in accordance with PNG's constitution," he said.
As a member of the Commonwealth, Papua New Guinea's head of state is Queen Elizabeth II and Ogio is her representative.
AFP
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