21 Aug 2006

Solomons row between PM and attorney general to go to court

1:41 pm on 21 August 2006

A disagreement between the Solomon Islands Government and the Attorney General over the Commission of Inquiry into the Honiara riots is headed for court.

The Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare, says legal proceedings have begun following allegations by Primo Afeau against him and his Government.

Mr Sogavare says the conflicting opinions between himself and the Attorney General over the inquiry was never intended to be a war of words.

He says Mr Afau's actions are an attempt to dissuade the government from setting up a robust inquiry on behalf of the public.

A government spokesperson, Alfred Maesulia, says the Attorney General has initiated his own legal proceedings against the government.

"The Attorney General said that he was not consulted before the establishment of this commission of inquiry and he didn't provide any legal advice to the government. He was not happy about two points in the commission of inquiry and based on those he said he was trying to take it to the High Court."

The Prime Minister says the Attorney General is staging a trial by the media.