Police fire on Papua New Guinea protest
Police in Papua New Guinea have opened fire on students protesting against Prime Minister Peter O'Neill.
Advertisement
Several students were injured and opposition MPs said four were killed, but the government denied any deaths.
The students were marching from their campus in the capital, Port Moresby, towards parliament where Mr O'Neill faces a possible no confidence motion.
They are demanding that he stand down and answer corruption allegations. Mr O'Neill has denied wrongdoing.
In a statement later on Wednesday, Mr O'Neill said "a small group of students were violent, threw rocks at police and provoked a response that came in the form of tear gas and warning shots".
"The factors that led to students being injured are yet to be ascertained," he said, condemning "agitators responsible for instigating a violent confrontation".
The government said an inquiry would be launched to determine what caused the clashes.
In a separate development, parliament was adjourned on Wednesday until August.
Conflicting reports
Footage obtained by the BBC appeared to show a large crowd of students at the campus running away as shots and tear gas were fired.
credit BBC
