Sogavare wants his security unit re-armed

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare wants the local police unit protecting him re-armed.

He says if there is a group that is loyal and faithful to the government, it has to be the unit attached to protecting the Prime Minister.

Mr Sogavare says this group was not involved in the coup in 2000, and the arms that they have were not given to the militants. He says this highly disciplined group was loyal and committed to its work, until 2003 when the Regional Assistant Mission to Solomon Islands arrived and disarmed it.

"The decision has not been taken unilaterally. I've been consulting very closely with the Commissioner of Police and that it must be done in the framework of enhancing legislation in the presence of RAMSI and the laws we have in the country."

Source: SIBC