Sunday, July 03, 2011 1:09:24 AM
Papua New Guinea's Sir Michael Somare ends 50-year role
By Nick Bryant BBC News, Sydney
28 June 2011
Ill health is forcing Sir Michael Somare to
end a near-50 year political career
Related Stories
PNG leader's son on murder charge .. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13795298
PNG PM steps aside for tribunal .. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11990157
Country profile: Papua New Guinea .. http://www.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1246074.stm
Papua New Guinea's veteran Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare has stepped down from office because of ill health.
The 75-year-old leader, dominant in Papua New Guinea politics since the late 1960s, underwent heart surgery earlier this year in Singapore.
Sir Michael was appointed as prime minister in 1975, when the country gained independence from Australia.
It is not known when a decision will be made about a permanent successor. Sam Abal is the acting prime minister.
Sir Michael gained prominence initially as a leader in the independence movement before becoming country's first prime minister.
A chronic heart condition forced him to temporarily step down last December.
Then, this April he had to serve a two-week suspension from office when he was found guilty
of official misconduct after failing to submit full financial statements in the 1990s.
Afterwards, he vowed to return as prime minister, but instead remained in Singapore where he has been receiving medical treatment.
Sir Michael's son, Arthur, said his father was critically ill following three heart operations,
and had decided to step down permanently as prime minister and also to retire from politics.
The veteran leader's deputy, Sam Abal, has been the acting prime minister.
Earlier this month he sacked two of his leading rivals - the country's foreign minister
and its energy minister - in what was seen as a move to consolidate his position.
Recently, Mr Abal's 21-year-old son was accused of murder after the body of a woman
was discovered in the banana garden of the family home in the capital Port Moresby.
National elections are not expected until the middle of next year.
Related: Timeline: Papua New Guinea 02 JULY 2011, COUNTRY PROFILES ..
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/country_profiles/3028825.stm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13938365
By Nick Bryant BBC News, Sydney
28 June 2011
Ill health is forcing Sir Michael Somare to
end a near-50 year political career
Related Stories
PNG leader's son on murder charge .. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13795298
PNG PM steps aside for tribunal .. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11990157
Country profile: Papua New Guinea .. http://www.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1246074.stm
Papua New Guinea's veteran Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare has stepped down from office because of ill health.
The 75-year-old leader, dominant in Papua New Guinea politics since the late 1960s, underwent heart surgery earlier this year in Singapore.
Sir Michael was appointed as prime minister in 1975, when the country gained independence from Australia.
It is not known when a decision will be made about a permanent successor. Sam Abal is the acting prime minister.
Sir Michael gained prominence initially as a leader in the independence movement before becoming country's first prime minister.
A chronic heart condition forced him to temporarily step down last December.
Then, this April he had to serve a two-week suspension from office when he was found guilty
of official misconduct after failing to submit full financial statements in the 1990s.
Afterwards, he vowed to return as prime minister, but instead remained in Singapore where he has been receiving medical treatment.
Sir Michael's son, Arthur, said his father was critically ill following three heart operations,
and had decided to step down permanently as prime minister and also to retire from politics.
The veteran leader's deputy, Sam Abal, has been the acting prime minister.
Earlier this month he sacked two of his leading rivals - the country's foreign minister
and its energy minister - in what was seen as a move to consolidate his position.
Recently, Mr Abal's 21-year-old son was accused of murder after the body of a woman
was discovered in the banana garden of the family home in the capital Port Moresby.
National elections are not expected until the middle of next year.
Related: Timeline: Papua New Guinea 02 JULY 2011, COUNTRY PROFILES ..
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/country_profiles/3028825.stm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13938365
Jonathan Swift said, "May you live all the days of your life!"
Join the InvestorsHub Community
Register for free to join our community of investors and share your ideas. You will also get access to streaming quotes, interactive charts, trades, portfolio, live options flow and more tools.
