PACIFIC BRIEFS

Violence flares in Solomons

HONIARA, Solomon Islands – More violence between the country’s two ethnic warring factions erupted in the Solomon Islands capital of Honiara.

The office of Malaita Eagle Force leader, Andrew Nori, was set on fire and burned to the ground.

The fire, which spread to surrounding buildings, was reportedly set by members of the MEF who are unhappy about payments made to them last week for disarmament and disbandment of their camps.

Also, shots were fired by members of the paramilitary arm of the MEF in order to clear the streets of Honiara after panic had ensued.

Another quake shakes PNG

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea – Another strong earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale shook the northern regions of New Britain and New Ireland.

Earthquakes have been an almost daily occurrence since two major quakes hit the area last week.

The Geophysical Observatory said the latest quake was probably an aftershock related to last week’s major quakes.

The observatory said strong aftershocks are likely to continue for weeks and even months.

Tidal surges caused by the quakes have prompted authorities to accelerate plans to resettle people affected by rising sea levels.

Solomons public servants extend strike

HONIARA, Solomon Islands – More than 1,000 of the government’s striking public servants said they plan to extend their job walkout in a dispute over a danger allowance.

The Public Employees Union said the government promised to provide public employees with an $8-a-day danger allowance for working during ethnic fighting between militant groups between June and October.

A union spokesman said public servants in Honiara risked their lives by continuing to provide government services at a time when the city was a war zone.

Talks between the union and government are scheduled for Monday.

New Caledonia mad cow disease free

NOUMÉA, New Caledonia – Officials have stressed that the French territory is free of the mad cow disease that is currently gripping metropolitan France.

Sales of beef in France have plummeted by some 40 percent because of the disease.

Authorities in New Caledonia said the territory’s grass-fed cattle have “privileged sanitary status,” and that no cases of the disease have been detected.

However, residents are on alert since some meat-based canned and frozen products are imported from Europe.

U.S. PACIFIC commander visits Tahiti

PAPE’ETE, Tahiti- Hawaii-based U.S. Admiral Dennis Blair, commander of the U.S. forces in the Pacific, participated in a two-day official tour of French Polynesia this week.

Blair led a 15-member delegation, including Fiji-based U.S. Ambassador Osman Siddique, to the region.

During talks with the French Pacific Forces commander, Blair mentioned the possibility of new areas of cooperation between French and U.S. Pacific forces.

He said that the final approval for new joint exercises with the U.S. would have to come from Paris. (Pacific Islands Report)