Former Papua New Guinea deputy fails to mount challenge

By ABC PNG correspondent LIAM FOX

There have been tense scenes inside and outside Papua New Guinea's parliament amid speculation of a move to topple the prime minister.

Scores of heavily armed police patrolled the parliament precinct where the gates were closed to the general public and a large crowd chanted for the police to let them in.

Inside former deputy prime minister Puka Temu took a seat on the opposition side of the house with two other former ministers.

The trio defected from the government yesterday to a coalition made up of opposition MPs and smaller parties.

Mr Temu held discussions yesterday with opposition MPs at a resort outside Port Moresby.

Question time was tense with a lot of shouting and fist pumping but the new opposition group did not follow through with a threat to move a motion of no confidence against prime minister Sir Michael Somare.