Somare Elected New PNG Premier

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, August 06, 2002

Somare Elected New PNG Premier

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Sir Michael Somare, who led Papua New Guinea to independence in 1975, was overwhelmingly elected prime minister for a third time Monday in a surprise comeback that followed the most chaotic and violent polls in the nation's history.

In an uncontested parliamentary vote held under tight police security, Somare, 66, received the backing of 88 deputies out of the 103 eligible to cast ballots.

It was an unexpectedly strong showing in the splintered legislature and offered the prospect that Somare could bring some much-needed political stability to his poor and ethnically diverse country of five million. Somare's victory came a day after the outgoing prime minister, reformer Mekere Morauta, said he would not seek reelection due to the poor showing in the polls of his People's Democratic Movement (PDM).

The PDM, which returned only 12 deputies to parliament compared to 19 for Somare's National Alliance, boycotted Monday's vote along with some independents. The marathon national elections were generally considered the most chaotic and violent since Papua New Guinea gained independence from Australia.

Source: Agencies

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