Mutinous army demands Papua New Guinea's PM to step down

Mutinous soldiers seized Papua New Guineas military headquarters Thursday, replaced the top defense official and demanded that Prime Minister Peter ONeill cede power to his ousted predecessor within a week.The new crisis comes during a turbulent period for the South Pacifics most populous island nation, where both ONeill and former Prime Minister Michael Somare claim to be the rightful leader.The self-proclaimed new chief of the countrys defense forces, retired Col. Yaura Sasa, insisted he was not mounting a coup. But he warned that the military would take unspecified action unless ONeill stands down and Somare, is reinstated, as the national Supreme Court ordered last month.Both Sir Michael Somare and ONeill have seven days to implement the Supreme Courts orders to resolve the current political impasse or I will be forced to take actions to uphold the integrity of the Constitution, Sasa told reporters in Port Moresby.The government called on Sasas group to surrender and said the mutiny did not have support from the broader military.Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah told reporters that about 30 soldiers were involved in the mutiny and that 15 of them have been arrested. Namah said Sasa could be charged with treason, which carries the death sentence.The mutiny started before dawn, when rebel soldiers overpowered guards at the Taurama Barracks in Port Moresby. They then moved to the military headquarters at Murray Barracks and placed the head of the Papua New Guinea Defense Force, Brigadier General Francis Agwi, under house arrest. There were no reports of bloodshed.The Australian Embassy reported that Agwi was released from house arrest later Thursday, a development welcomed by Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd.Sasa, who last served as Papua New Guineas defense attache to Indonesia before retiring from the military, told reporters he had been legitimately appointed defense chief by Somare.Somares spokeswoman Betha Somare told Australian Broadcasting Corp. that his ousted Cabinet had confirmed Sasas appointment several days ago. Betha Somare, who is also Michael Somares daughter, did not immediately reply to The Associated Press request for comment on Thursday.Namah said Somare had no sanity and was using rogue soldiers to pursue his own greed and selfishness.ONeill had told Australia Papua New Guineas former colonial master and main provider of foreign aid that authorities were taking steps to manage the situation, Australias Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said.Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard condemned the mutiny.The military has no place in PNG politics, she said in a statement.It is critical therefore that this situation be resolved peacefully as soon as possible, with the PNG Defense Force chain of command restored, she added.Somare was Papua New Guineas first prime minister when it became independent in 1975, and was knighted by Britains Queen Elizabeth II. Papua New Guineas Parliament replaced him with ONeill in August, while Somare was getting medical treatment outside the country.Last month, the countrys Supreme Court and Governor-General Michael Ogio backed Somare, who the court ruled was illegally removed. But Ogio changed his mind days later, saying bad legal advice had led him to incorrectly reinstate Somare.Australia, which has the largest diplomatic mission of any country in Port Moresby, called for Agwi to be reinstated.We urge that the situation be resolved as soon as possible, and that the PNGDF chain of command is restored, the foreign affairs department said in a statement.