Army called in to quell PNG election violence

Port Moresby (Reuters): Papua New Guinea's military was called out on Wednesday to quell unrest after the death toll in the politically unstable South Pacific nation's chaotic national elections rose to about 19.

An unspecified number of soldiers flew from the capital Port Moresby to reinforce police in the volatile Highlands region where two people, including an election candidate, were shot dead in fighting between factions on Monday.

The troops were called in after the Southern Highlands administrator, Uhae Jabo, declared the area a "fighting zone" late on Tuesday, giving security forces emergency powers including the right to search people and their homes without warrants.

"I have now requested the use of defense force soldiers to be deployed in the Highlands to boost police manpower in the election operation," said Police Commissioner Joseph Kupo.

"The rules of engagement first and foremost will be a lot of patience and tolerance," he said in comments from a news conference received by Reuters on Wednesday.

The military, divided by two mutinies in the past five years, has never been used outside a logistics support role in the previous six elections since Papua New Guinea (PNG)'s independence from Australia in 1975.

Polling began on June 15 had been due to end on June 29 but the unrest and widespread irregularities, including missing ballot boxes and papers, multiple voting and thousands of "ghost voters" on electoral rolls, has forced an extension of two weeks.

The death toll from election-related violence has been put at least 19 by domestic media citing witnesses and hospital workers. Dozens of people have been injured but police have been unable to confirm the toll.

The violence has centered mainly around the Western Highlands town of Mount Hagen, 510 km northwest of Port Moresby, and nearby Mendi in the Southern Highlands.