PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (AP) — One man was killed and another had his hand chopped off in election-related violence in Papua New Guinea, police said Tuesday.
Supporters of rival candidates clashed over the weekend, just two weeks before polling in the troubled Pacific nation north of Australia.
Eastern Highlands police commander Winnie Henao said that in the village of Asaro, 260 miles northwest of the capital, Port Moresby, five supporters of a candidate beat a supporter of another candidate to death, hitting him on the head with a stone.
Shortly after, one of the assailants began setting fire to houses, including those belonging to the dead man’s relatives, Henao said.
The following morning the owner of one of the houses caught the alleged arsonist and chopped off his hand, Henao said.
There was no immediate word of arrests but police said they had identified suspects.
There was no evidence to suggest any election candidates were directly involved in the murder, police said.
Prime Minister Mekere Morauta goes to the polls in two weeks seeking a second term for his shaky coalition which has pledged to fight corruption and push through economic reforms in this near bankrupt country.
A total of 2,866 candidates are contesting Parliament’s 109 seats in the election.
