Australia and New Zealand sent more troops to the Solomons yesterday to bolster security amid fears the opening of parliament could trigger further riots in the South Pacific island nation.
Solomon Islands police commissioner Shane Castles said security forces would be prepared for any incidents across the capital Honiara when parliament sits today.
Australia, New Zealand and Fiji had already sent more than 300 soldiers and police to restore law and order in the Solomon Islands after two days of looting and violence last week left parts of Honiara in ruins.
An additional 25 Australian troops and 53 from New Zealand will join the existing force to help head off any more violence, which was sparked by anger at last Tuesday's election of new Prime Minister Snyder Rini.
The heavy security presence, as well as a dusk-to-dawn curfew and an alcohol ban, have seen the looting and devastation die down over the past few days, but police believe tensions could reignite.
"Parliament house will be in a state of lockdown," Castles said.
"There will be a great level of security activity around parliament but we can't ignore the possibility of other things happening somewhere else in Honiara. Our plan is to be as all-encompassing as we can," he said.
Rini will face a no-confidence vote from opposition members of parliament who say support for his ouster is growing because members of the new coalition government, including newly appointed Cabinet minister Patrick Vahoe, are defecting.
Vahoe was arrested late on Saturday for breaking curfew and could be held in protective custody for seven days, although Castles said authorities were considering whether he would be able to take part in the no-confidence vote.
Also arrested was Robert Wales Feratelia, who last week led the People's Power group that presented a petition to the governor general demanding Rini's resignation.
A special court sitting yesterday heard that when Feratelia, a former mayor of Honiara, was asked at a public meeting what would happen if Rini did not step down, he replied in Solomon Islands pidgin: "Kill them."
He then praised those involved in the looting and burning, describing the destruction as "a job well done."
But a defiant Rini said he would not resign and was adamant he still had the numbers to govern.
"I am confident. Things will be definitely work our way, and we are optimistic that our numbers will increase in the coming week," he said.
Meanwhile, about 150 Chinese nationals were airlifted out of Honiara yesterday. They will join 90 Chinese who were flown to Papua New Guinea on Saturday.
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