Prime minister ‘threatens to kill’ opposition MP

The prime minister of Papua New Guinea, Sir Michael Somare, has done his nation's political reputation no good by apparently threatening to kill an opposition MP amid chaotic scenes in the country's parliament.

He made the comments after a debate on a motion of no confidence in his government ended in uproar as the speaker refused to allow a vote to be taken.

Although the opposition had a majority, thanks to a mass defection from Somare's government, their calls for a vote were rejected and instead the speaker, a supporter of Somare, adjourned parliament until November.

That prompted wild scenes in the chamber as furious opposition MPs branded Somare a "dictator". In response the 74-year-old prime minister marched across the floor and confronted opposition MP Sam Basil and told him in 'Tok Pisin' - the pidgin English language of PNG - "I am going to kill you outside".

Sir Michael had to be calmed down by his son and minister for public enterprises, Arthur Somare. Later a spokesman for the prime minister denied that Sir Michael had threatened to kill anyone, and said that the exact translation of his words was "you're dead meat".

Basil, who allegedly insulted Arthur Somare during the exchanges, later announced: "If they do kill me at least I can say I stood up for this country."

Sir Michael has towered over Papua New Guinean politics since independence from Australia in 1975. He became the country's first prime minister and served a second term in the 1980s. He is now in his third stint as PM and has led the nation since 2002.

However, political life in the country, which is home to 7 million people who speak 850 different languages, remains haunted by allegations of corruption, fraud and intimidation. In May, Sir Michael apologised after branding anti-corruption activists "mentally retarded". ·