More NZ troops flying to Honiara

New Zealand is sending 53 more soldiers to the riot-torn Solomon Islands.

On Thursday New Zealand rushed 25 Army personnel and 30 police to the Pacific nation to help quell two days of mayhem that caused widespread damage to the capital, Honiara.

Yesterday, soon after Australia sent a further 110 soldiers to the Solomons, New Zealand announced the extra 53 would be flying north tomorrow.

"The extra troops are required to help give broader coverage of Honiara, better protection of infrastructure, and greater capacity to investigate and apprehend key offenders," said Prime Minister Helen Clark.

The reinforcements bring the number of New Zealand personnel in the Solomons to 192 - 125 from the Defence Force and 67 police.

The initial request for troops came from the Solomons Government but yesterday's call for more soldiers came from Ramsi - the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands.

Ramsi deputy special co-ordinator Paul Ash said the main influx of soldiers and police and a dawn-till-dusk curfew had returned relative calm to Honiara.

However, further troops were essential for maintaining order next week when the Solomons Parliament meets and Prime Minister Snyder Rini faces a no confidence motion.

When the rioting broke out, New Zealand soldiers in Honiara were guarding the prison and airfield. Newly arrived Australian troops had taken over that job and the Kiwi soldiers, already familiar with Honiara, switched to patrolling the city.

Meanwhile, words rather than rocks were flying around in the Solomon Islands yesterday, as Opposition leaders tried to drum up support for a no confidence motion.

Mr Rini attempted to demonstrate he was in charge by emerging from hiding to announce his Cabinet but Opposition leaders are determined to overthrow his fledgling Administration.

The newly-elected Solomons Parliament is due to convene on Monday and be formally sworn in - an event Ramsi fears could trigger further violence.

Further unrest is likely on Wednesday, when Opposition leaders hope their motion of no confidence in Mr Rini will be debated.

The Prime Minister said "I was elected through a democratic process and according to the country's constitution" as he rejected calls for his resignation and denied allegations of corruption.

New Zealand High Commissioner Brian Sanders doubted Mr Rini's reappearance today would spur further rioting.

"I think people will want to think about Mr Rini as Prime Minister and also think about the nominations of people for Cabinet. I think what they've tried to do is get a good provincial spread in the Cabinet and that might draw some support for the Prime Minister, but whether or not it reflects enough change for those people who were opposed to Mr Rini, we will just have to wait and see in Parliament."

When Parliament meets, it will be finely divided between the backers of Mr Rini and a newly-formed opposition grouping pledged to see his Government fall. Mr Rini won the vote for the prime ministership 27-23 over Job Dudley Tausinga, but since that vote two of Mr Rini's supporters have defected to the Opposition.

Should the motion of no confidence be passed and Mr Rini's Government fall, Solomon Island MPs will once more be polled to find a new Prime Minister.

Something approaching normal life returned to the city yesterday, Mr Sanders said.

"There are a lot more people in Honiara now. The banks are open today, the market is operating, both those are good signs."