Solomons PM 'freed'

Fighting between rebel groups has escalated

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Bartholomew Ulufa'alu has reportedly been released by rebels who have been holding him at gunpoint for two days.

The Malaita Eagles militia handed the prime minister over to his regular security guards at 1830 (0730 GMT), according to Minister of State Alfred Sasako.

Ulufa'alu: Accused of failing to address the ethnic problem

"The prime minister is free," Mr Sasako said. "He is in high spirits but he is not used to the treatment he was given over the last two days."

But some reports said the statement should be treated with caution as telephone lines to the prime minister's office and home remained cut.

Reports of Mr Ulufa'alu's release came as fighting intensified between members of the Malaita Eagles and a rival militia, the Isatabu Freedom Movement (IFM), near the capital Honiara.

Solomon Islands: key facts

Population: 450,000

Spread over six large islands and many small ones

One of region's poorest countries and getting poorer

Exports: Cocoa, copra, fish and timber

Main partners: Australia and Japan

History: former British protectorate

The Eagles captured a heavily armed police patrol boat and bombarded a coastal village.

A school was reported hit in the attack, but no children were hurt as they had already been evacuated.

Andrew Nori, the Eagles' leader, said his forces were targeting armed rivals massed on a beach and the casualties "could be between 50 and 100".

There was no independent confirmation of any casualties and New Zealand Foreign Minister Phil Goff said Mr Nori's claims appeared to contain "a significant level of exaggeration".

A diplomat in Honiara said fighting had also flared again near the airport, where the two rebels groups had clashed on Tuesday.

Militia takeover

The Malaita Eagles took over the capital on Monday and arrested Mr Ulufa'alu, demanding his resignation.

They raided police armouries, seized patrol boats and disarmed all police who declined to join them, according to reports.

The prime minister has offered to resign if it will help achieve peace in the islands.

But the rebels have said he can stay in office until the end of next week when parliament will decide his fate.

Rebels take cover in jungle near the airport

At least 60 people have been killed and about 20,000 people forced to flee their homes in clashes between the Eagles and the IFM over the last 18 months.

The IFM is trying to force migrants from the nearby island of Malaita off the main island of Guadalcanal. It accuses them of stealing their land and jobs.

Mr Ulufa'alu is himself from Malaita but is regarded as a turncoat by some.

Commonwealth concern

The Commonwealth has threatened to suspend the Solomon Islands unless constitutional rule is restored soon.

The eight-member Commonwealth Ministers Action Group, which met in London on Tuesday, expressed "deep concern" over the situation in the country.

The ministers demanded the armed rebels withdraw their forces from Honiara and remove all constraints on the prime minister.

Australian Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, said there was no doubt the rebels had been influenced by events in Fiji, where the prime minister has been held hostage since last month.

Australia, one of the country's most important trading partners, and the United States have both condemned the takeover.