Sir Mekere challenges party leadership of PNG Opposition

In Papua New Guinea (PNG), former prime minister Sir Mekere Morauta has again tried to assert control of the country's main opposition party.

Sir Mekere maintains he is still the leader of the party despite a bloc of MPs saying they have dumped him.

In keeping with the bizarre traditions of PNG politics, Sir Mekere was dumped as leader of his party, the People's Democratic Movement (PDM), which then reinstalled as leader another former PM, Paias Wingti, who had been expelled by the party just months earlier.

But Sir Mekere says that move was illegal and breached the constitution of the party.

He has called on corruption authorities to investigate the events for possible breaches of new laws that regulate political parties.

Sir Mekere says he is still leader of PDM, which he says will be changing its name as soon as an application is approved by the relevant authorities.