Papua New Guinea's Somare and O'Neill claim PM role

Papua New Guinea is in political deadlock after its supreme court ruled that parliament had acted illegally by electing Peter O'Neill prime minister. The government voted in August that the post was vacant after then Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare went abroad for medical treatment. But the court ruled this was not the case, and that Mr Somare, who has since returned, should be sworn in again. Mr O'Neill has refused to stand down, sparking fears of unrest. Nearby Australia has said it is "deeply concerned" by the rising tensions. Mr Somare left Papua New Guinea in March to receive treatment for a heart condition. In June, his family announced he was standing down from politics, a move he later said had been taken without consulting him. He remained out of the country for five months and in August, MPs declared the position vacant and that Mr Somare was no longer an MP. Mr O'Neill was elected by 70 votes to 24, replacing acting Prime Minister Sam Abal. But in a 3-2 decision on Monday, the supreme court ruled that: "Sir Michael Somare is to be restored to the office of prime minister forthwith." 'Unknown terrain' Mr Somare, who has led the country since independence in 1975, said the judiciary had "once again upheld our constitution". Map "My government followed process and waited for the appropriate authority, the judiciary, to make its judgement," he said. He is expected to be sworn in on Tuesday, but Mr O'Neill has said he will not cede power to him. Reuters reports that heavily armed police prevented Mr O'Neill from reaching parliament to be sworn in late on Monday. The capital, Port Moresby, was reported to be quiet on Tuesday morning, but there were reports of scuffles outside Government House. Papua New Guinea has seen extensive political violence in the past and there are concerns of a fresh outbreak. "We are waiting for one of them to be sworn in," one resident told Reuters. Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd said Papua New Guinea was entering "unknown terrain". "We of course have been urging calm on the part of all parties," he said of the former Australian colony.