Top Australian diplomat to lead Solomons intervention force

One of Australia's top diplomats is to head the Australian- and New Zealand-led intervention force to the Solomon Islands this week.

Nick Warner is Australia's ambassador for counter-terrorism and has been chosen by Australian prime minister John Howard to co-ordinate up to 2500 police, army and civilian personnel attempting to bring law and order to the violence-torn islands.

The landing ship HMAS Manoora will leave Townsville, Queensland, tomorrow, bound for the Solomons with vehicles and support equipment.

Most of the Australian police and a small number of troops who will be engaged on the islands will travel by air force Hercules, with the operation expected to start on Thursday, pending final Australian government confirmation of the mission due on Tuesday.

Mr Warner has not yet spoken to media, but he made a five-hour visit to Solomons capital Honiara on Thursday to meet prime minister Sir Allan Kemakaza and Police Commissioner William Morrell.

Mr Warner was appointed ambassador for counter-terrorism in March, but has previously been Australia's high commissioner to Papua New Guinea. The Australian newspaper said he was selected because of his Melanesian experience and reputation as an adroit diplomat.

New Zealand is engaging 35 police and 105 military on the mission. That includes 10 police officers already stationed in the Solomons.

Defence Minister Mark Burton's spokeswoman told NZPA on Friday no final date for the deployment of New Zealand personnel had yet been set.

It was likely that some would be there by the "end of the month", with others joining at different times in the following weeks.

The intervention force is led by police, with the military present for protection.

Ethnic violence has led to a breakdown in law and order with legal, health and education services barely functioning in many parts of the Solomons. Warlord Harold Keke, based on the rugged Weathercoast of main island Guadalcanal, is alleged to have killed 50 people and burned villages.

Two senior Australian cabinet ministers today warned the mission could face dangers.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the police officers would probably face greater risks than the military sent to protect them.

Mr Downer said he expected Solomons gunmen would realise they had little chance in any attack on the intervention force.

But there was a chance attacks would be made, particularly against the police.

"The police could find themselves from time to time in quite difficult circumstances and quite dangerous circumstances," he told the Nine Network.

"Obviously that's why we need the military there to protect them."

Mr Downer said the intervention forces would be much better armed and equipped than anything the gunmen had previously faced.

Defence Minister Robert Hill repeated the message and said that under the rules of engagement he had set down for Australia's members of the force, they could shoot to kill enemy gunmen.

"If there is an issue of a threat against life, if there is a response with heavy weapons, the military would be able to react accordingly and that could include lethal force," he said.

Senator Hill said Australia had sought support for the intervention force from other countries, including Japan.

He confirmed Australia had held formal talks with Japan to contribute to the effort, but no decision had yet been taken.

Members of the Fijian Defence Force have been undergoing pre-deployment training with the Australians in Townsville this weekend.

- NZPA