Political crisis in Papua New Guinea continues

In Papua New Guinea, the government on Friday declared a state of emergency in three provinces. Earlier in the day, dozens of rogue police officers blocked the entrance to Parliament for a short time to try and keep the legislative body from forming a quorum, in the latest act of a political drama which is paralysing the country ahead of elections scheduled for next month.

Friday morning, Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia was officially charged with sedition, in response to a Supreme Court ruling on Monday that his predecessor, Sir Michael Somare, is the rightful ruler of the country.

Parliament replaced Somare with O'Neill last August while Somare was getting medical treatment abroad, but Somare insists the move was illegal.

The crisis is threatening the running of elections due next month, when a new Parliament will be selected.

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