A former military commander in Papua New Guinea Thursday claimed to have seized control of the country’s armed forces and demanded that ousted prime minister Michael Somare be reinstated.

The dramatic move appeared to be connected with a power struggle between Somare and sitting premier Peter O’Neill over leadership of the resource-rich but impoverished country, which has been struggling to throw off its reputation as a politically dysfunctional and often lawless nation.

Ex-colonel Yaura Sasa held a news conference at military headquarters in the capital Port Moresby to declare himself leader of the PNG Defence Force following media reports of a “mutiny” at the city’s Taurama barracks.

“My task is restoring the integrity and respect of the constitution and the judiciary,” Sasa told reporters at the commander’s office.

Full story:Papua New Guinea hit by military mutiny

Source: IntellAsia