Solomons mission set to begin

The Solomons have been destabilised by civil war

An Australian mission to restore peace to the troubled Solomon Islands could begin deployment as early as 24 July, according to Australian media.

The reports came as New Zealand said it would commit 140 police and troops to the military operation.

Samoa, Fiji and Papua New Guinea are also expected to contribute police and military personnel.

Parliamentarians in the Solomons approved the intervention last week.

But the deployment is still subject to legislation being passed in the Solomon Islands' parliament. The debate is expected to begin on Wednesday.

The BBC's Phil Mercer says the peace keepers' first task will be to disarm militias in the capital, Honiara.

They would then be expected to fan out to secure the provinces.

The Solomon Islands has been in chaos since the end of an ethnic war three years ago. Lawlessness and corruption are rife. Dozens of people have been murdered by armed gangs so far this year. In May, an Australian missionary was beheaded.

About 1,500 of the 2,000 military personnel to be deployed will be Australian, according to the country's Defence Minister, Robert Hill.

The contingent from New Zealand will include four helicopters, support staff and a small medical team, as well as the troops and police officers. An infantry company will also be on standby.

The Solomons Prime Minister, Sir Allan Kemakeza, told his nation on Tuesday that the islands had nothing to fear from the military operation.

"We will be welcoming hundreds of our regional neighbours who are coming to help us, not harm us," he said in a statement.

"The policemen and women, army men and women, as well as financial experts who are coming to help us, are professional people, highly trained and tightly disciplined.

"They are not coming to take over the country," he said.

The Solomons parliament is due to debate the force's rules of engagement this week.

A copy of the "enabling legislation" obtained by the Reuters news agency said the intervention force would be able to use any force that was reasonably necessary and would have immunity from prosecution in relation to action taken in the course of their duties.