PNG students return to Parliament

Papua New Guinea students will rally again in Port Moresby today in anticipation of a parliamentary vote of no confidence in the Government of Peter O'Neill and a hearing of the National Court.

A spokesperson from the office of the leader of the opposition, Don Polye, said the application for the vote would be filed with the Speaker of the House this week, but he could not say when.

The constitiution prevents such a vote being taken less than 12 months out from a general election.

Yesterday, Mr O'Neill told leaders from Pacific, African and Carribean nations who have gathered in Port Moresby for a summit, that PNG will hold a general election in 10 months.

The newspaper the Post Courier reported that in his address to the leaders, Mr O'Neill said PNG has, "a very robust parliamentary democracy with a single chamber elected by the people every five years, next elections will be held in 10 months. "

The students will also gather outside the National Court today, which will decide whether the University of PNG can evict students from the campus after a month long boycott of classes.

The students are demanding Mr O'Neill stand down to face corruption allegations.

A student leader Gerald Turumanu-Peni said students who gather in the capital today will not antagonise the police.

"Policeman power everywhere in the city, but as we've been doing since day one everything has been going on peacefull from our end," he said.

"With the police we spoke with them and they've agreed that we'll come back."

"The National Parliament and the National Court are just opposite each other so well attend the other and after that we'll attend another," said Mr Turumanu-Peni.

The police have a heavy presence in Port Moresby because of the leaders summit which includes the President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe.