Papua New Guinea is to ask Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott to extradite three Australians who worked at the Manus Island immigration detention centre so they can face rape allegations.
Mr Abbott was due to arrive in the PNG capital last night to attend the Pacific Islands Forum leaders summit.
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott. Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
The three Australians, who worked for Wilson Security at Manus, are accused of raping an employee with detention centre operator Transfield.
Shortly after the alleged rape in July, the three ex-pats were flown out of the country.
PNG's prime minister Peter O'Neill told media assembled for the Forum summit that the three guards must be returned to face up to the allegations and be tried under PNG law.
His administration and the PNG police have signalled frustration that their representations to Australian authorities to have the three extradited have so far been unsuccessful.
Rape convictions carry the death sentence in PNG.