Order restored after PNG soldiers revolt

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- A potential crisis sparked by a mutiny by Papua New Guinea's military is over, Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said Thursday.

O'Neill said Brig. Gen. Francis Agwi, placed under house arrest Thursday morning, was freed and the leader of the raid on Agwi's office was being "dealt with," Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported.

About 30 soldiers, led by former Col. Yaura Sasa, placed Agwi under house arrest in the action backed by former Prime Minister Michael Somare.

O'Neill did not clarify how Sasa was being "dealt with," only that appropriate authorities were involved.

"The commander is now released; he's not under house arrest," O'Neill said. "And as a result the government has taken full control of the defense headquarters."

He said an investigation into issues the soldiers have would be conducted.

A senior defense official confirmed O'Neill's announcement, saying, "We have taken control of the situation."

Earlier, Sasa said soldiers under his command stormed the headquarters and placed Agwi under house arrest.

He said the action did rise to a military mutiny or takeover because he was appointed defense commander by Somare, who was ousted last year while seeking medical treatment in Singapore and replaced by O'Neill.

Last month the country's supreme court ordered Somare be reinstated as prime minister and as a member of Parliament, but O'Neill remained prime minister, backed by the departments of public service and defense, the police and most of the country's lawmakers, creating the constitutional impasse, ABC said.

Sasa had called on Somare and O'Neill to resolve the stalemate soon, ABC said.

"My task is restoring the integrity and respect of the constitution and the judiciary," he told reporters in Port Moresby, the country's capital.