Fed: Downer to arrive in troubled Honiara today

AAP General News (Australia)
04-22-2006
Fed: Downer to arrive in troubled Honiara today

SYDNEY, April 22 AAP - Foreign Minister Alexander Downer will arrive in the Solomon
Islands today and deliver an ultimatum for the riot-torn country's new prime minister
- tackle corruption or risk a repeat of this week's devastating violence.

A further 110 Australian troops arrived in Honiara yesterday, and more could follow
as Prime Minister John Howard said he would not accept a failed state on his country's
doorstep.

Mr Downer yesterday said he would have some strong messages for Snyder Rini, who has
been accused of being bankrolled by Chinese businessmen and using the cash to bribe MPs
to elect him Solomons prime minister.

Australia will demand to know how Mr Rini plans to resolve political tensions that
boiled over this week and sparked widescale riots that left parts of the capital razed,
and about 30 Australian police injured.

"I hope to discuss at length with him what strategies his government will adopt to
address deep-seated tensions within Solomon Islands society," Mr Downer said in a statement.

"I will be encouraging him to commit his government to move forward on crucial measures
to improve good governance, address corruption and work towards economic prosperity for
Solomon Islands."

AAP ved/cjh

KEYWORD: SOLOMONS AUST DAYLEAD

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