Fatal shooting

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Papua New Guinea

tolls two

A Papua New Guinea soldier and a civil ian have been shot dead in central Bougainville. The Prime Minister’s Office confirmed the two were killed and another soldier seriously wounded in an ambush at Manetai on the afternoon of November 21.

Their military vehicle was attacked as it was transporting fuel and food.

On-one claimed responsibility for the ambush but it is the most serious of a number of clashes since the PNG gov ernment signed a cease fire agreement with the Bougainville Revolutionary Army in September. n n n

Provincial

govt's must go

Papua New Guinea’s prime minister Sir Julius Chan, has reiterated that the country’s provincial government system would be abolished, contradicting earli er statements made by his deputy Chris Haiveta who said the system would be retained.

PNG’s Cabinet met on November 17 while Sir Julius was still away attending the APEC summit and agreed, under the chairmanship of the acting prime minister, Haiveta, to retain the provincial government system.