Solomons MP faces riot charge

Mr Dausabea was refused bail

A court in the Solomon Islands has remanded a senior opposition MP in custody on charges of inciting the anti-government riots last week.

Troops surrounded the court as Charles Dausabea appeared to face charges of incitement, threatening violence and intimidation.

He denies the charges and says he was not involved in any violent disorder.

Opposition deputies are due to move a no-confidence motion on Wednesday against Prime Minister Snyder Rini.

His election last Tuesday triggered riots over claims he used money from Chinese and Taiwanese backers to bribe MPs into voting for him. Mr Rini has denied the claims.

Many Chinese businesses were looted during the violence, and parts of the capital Honiara were left in ruins.

Charges denied

The court heard that Mr Dausabea, 46, told a crowd outside parliament last Tuesday, when Snyder Rini was elected prime minister: "We lost, you people go do what you like now."

Later that same day, Mr Dausabea allegedly told a security guard at the Honiara Hotel, which is owned by Thomas Chan, the Chinese president of Mr Rini's political party: "You wait for me, I'm coming back to burn the Honiara Hotel."

Defence lawyer Billy Titiulu said Mr Dausabea denied all the charges, and that keeping him in custody could incite further violence.

Mr Rini told reporters on Tuesday that he was sure he would beat a no-confidence vote against him on Wednesday.

"I'm confident the motion will be beaten so that my government will continue with the work of rebuilding our beloved Solomon Islands," he told a news conference.

State media in China say more than 300 Chinese nationals have now arrived back in the south of the country after being evacuated from Honiara after the riots.