The Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands, Mr Bartholomew Ulufa'alu, resigned yesterday to avert civil war and appease rebels who seized the capital.
Strict conditions have been applied to the election of a new prime minister.
His decision to stand aside, a key demand of the rebels who captured Honiara on June 5th, was officially accepted yesterday by the Governor-General, Sir John Eni, and took immediate effect. Mr Ulufa'alu said he hoped his resignation would help resolve the country's crisis, but he was angry about being forced from office.
In a national address, Sir John said a sitting of parliament, scheduled for today, to debate a no-confidence motion in Mr Ulufa'alu's leadership, had been postponed.
The Director of Information, Mr Alfred Maesulia, said parliament would now sit within 14 days to select a new prime minister, but six conditions had been drawn up by Sir John and must be met.
They include the dismantling of the Malaita Eagle Force (MEF), the rebels who seized Mr Ulufa'alu and Honiara on June 5th.
The rival ethnic fighters, the Isatabu Freedom Movement (IFM), should withdraw to at least 30 km from the capital, and the operational security of Honiara returned to the acting police commissioner.
The six-point plan also calls for all arms to be returned to the police armoury and guarded by a neutral force, such as an Australian or New Zealand monitoring group.
He said he had spoken to the MEF leader, Mr Andrew Nori, who appeared to view the conditions favourably.
Fiji's military said yesterday that talks with the coup leader, Mr George Speight, to end the country's political crisis were back on track despite his demand for a far-reaching amnesty for him and his supporters.
The military spokesman, Col Filipo Tarakinikini, said he could not divulge any details and would not confirm who was involved. However, the martial law commander, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, spent part of yesterday at the home of the former vice-president, Mr Ratu Josefa Iloilo, and Mr Speight sent a new list of demands to that meeting.