Papuan prime minister re-elected

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Michael Somare survived a challenge from a former leader Monday to win a second consecutive term as prime minister of Papua New Guinea.

Eighty-six members of the country's 109-member parliament supported keeping Somare, 71, on the job, the BBC reported.

His election follows nationwide polls that began June 30.

Though Somare's National Alliance Party won only 27 parliamentary seats, it was able to form a coalition government through alliances with smaller parties and independents, the BBC said.

"I am happy to lead once against this large but manageable coalition government," Mr. Somare told supporters following his election. "We will use the experience to achieve even greater heights over the next five years."

A nation of some 6 million people, poverty is the main problem facing Papua New Guinea, where about 40 percent of the population lives on less than $1 a day.