Opposition Leader Is Elected Premier

Legislators narrowly elected a former opposition leader as prime minister of the Solomon Islands, and he pledged to end a year and a half of ethic violence that has killed as many as 60 people. Mannasseh Sogavare replaces ousted Prime Minister Bartholomew Ulufa’alu, who resigned 2 1/2 weeks ago after armed rebels from the island of Malaita held him at gunpoint and seized the capital, Honiara, on the main island of Guadalcanal. “My new government will address the crisis that has been affecting this nation this last 19 months,” Sogavare said. “My government is committed to bring Solomon Islands into national unity and reconciliation.”