Michael Somare says Peter O'Neill has made PNG a 'laughing stock'

Michael Somare says Peter O'Neill has made PNG a 'laughing stock'

3rd time lucky PM

VETERAN Papua New Guinean leader Michael Somare has hit out at rival Peter O'Neill, saying he had made PNG "the laughing stock of the Pacific and the Commonwealth".

Mr O'Neill was appointed Prime Minister  - the third time in less than a year that the 47-year-old has been sworn in as leader.

He won office in August in a vote of MPs during the prolonged absence of predecessor Sir Michael, who was recovering from major heart surgery at the time.

But Sir Michael, now 76, later recovered and has contested Mr O'Neill's rule ever since, taking his case to the Supreme Court, which has twice ruled that Mr O'Neill's rise to power was illegal and Sir Michael should be reinstated.

"You have shown no respect for tradition or protocol let alone the rule of law," Sir Michael, who maintains he is the rightful leader, said of Mr O'Neill in emailed comments.

"What shame you all bring to Papua New Guinea," he said.

"Mr O'Neill and his fellow rogues have crossed the line of decency. Your actions will determine your fate in your respective electorates."

PNG is due to go to the polls on June 23, seen as an important election with the country sitting on massive reserves of gas and minerals that analysts say have the potential to double GDP.

Earlier this week, the Commonwealth bloc of nations called on Papua New Guinea to respect the rule of law and the judiciary's independence, while Australia warned PNG was risking its international image.

AFP