A vote of no confidence in the Solomon Islands government of Manasseh Sogavare is underway at the parliament in Honiara.
Our correspondent says the vote process could take all afternoon.
Earlier the opposition leader Fred Fono said he believed he had the support to topple Mr sogavare and that he expects government members to use their common sense and support the motion.
He says the prime minister has tried to present the vote as an attack on the country's sovereignty in the wake of the row with Australia.
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"However I categorically deny that because this vote of no confidence was initiated by the opposition group in Parliament trying to save the nation from international embarrassment which we have seen over the past few months as the prime minister has really tarnished the image of Solomon Islands."
