The government of Michael Somare, the man who led Papua

New Guinea to independence and became its first Prime Minister, was voted out of office in March by 57 votes to 49 in the National Parliament in Port Moresby.

The new Prime Minister is Sir Julius Chan, parliamentary leader of the Peoples Progress Party. He was Somare’s Deputy Prime Minister for a period of 15 months before split ting from the government in 1978 and taking his party into opposition.

Mr Somare’s coalition his own Pangu Party and part of the troubled United Party went down to a new alliance made up of the Peoples Progress Party, Papua Besena, the National Party, part of the United Party and the newly formed Melanesian Alliance.

Mr Somare had led his country for eight years, first as Chief Minister in the transitional period of self-government and

then as Prime Minister after independence was achieved from Australia in 1975.

Much of the leadership which has replaced him consists of men he sacked or alienated in the past two years, including the new Deputy Prime Minister lambakey Okuk who was the major force in the move which unseated Mr Somare.

No significant policy shifts are expected to flow from the new government, although a more ‘open door ’ attitude may be taken to some investment from overseas and PNG may consolidate its foreign relations in the direction of countries it recognises as close friends.

Mr Somare has undertaken to lead ‘a responsible oppo sition’but has made it clear that he plans a comeback. Under the PNG constitution at least six months must elapse before he can mount a no-confidence motion of the type which un seated him. The first general election he could fight is nearly two years away.