Solomon Islands' Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has refused to resign after rioting rocked the country.

Sogavare said, "It is very clear that the recent events were well planned and orchestrated to remove me as the prime minister for unsubstantiated reasons."

"I want to show the nation that the government is fully intent and nothing will move us. We must and will never bow down to the evil intention of a few people," he added.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/solomon-islands-pm-refuses-to-resign-even-amid-growing-protests-in-region-431997/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Sogavare blamed outside interference for stirring up the protests calling for his resignation, with a thinly veiled reference to Taiwan and the United States.

Taiwan Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou said in a statement: “We have nothing to do with the unrest”.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/solomon-islands-riots-whats-behind-the-protests-431839">Also read |&nbsp;Solomon islands riots: What’s behind the protests?</a>

Many of the protesters come from the most populous province of Malaita, where there is resentment toward the government and opposition to its 2019 decision to end diplomatic ties with Taiwan and establish formal links with China.

China and Taiwan have been rivals in the South Pacific for decades with some island nations switching allegiances.

China views Taiwan as a wayward province with no right to state-to-state ties, which the government in Taipei hotly disputes. Only 15 countries maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taiwan-leader-meets-solomons-envoy-to-shore-up-ties-over-china-248580">Also read |&nbsp;Taiwan leader meets Solomons envoy to shore up ties over China</a>

"We must and will never bow down to the evil intention of a few people. We must stand up to intimidation, bullying and violence. We owe this to our children and the majority of our people who cannot defend themselves," the Solomon Islands leader said.

"Rest assured that they (instigators) will face the full brunt of the law and arrests are already &nbsp;being made as investigations continue, with more arrests to follow," he added.

Critics have blamed the unrest on complaints of a lack of government services and accountability, corruption and Chinese businesses giving jobs to foreigners instead of locals.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Solomon Islands' Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has refused to resign after rioting rocked the country. Sogavare said, "It is very clear that the recent events were well planned and orchestrated to remove me as the prime minister for unsubstantiated reasons.

Solomon Islands' Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has refused to resign after rioting rocked the country. Sogavare said, "It is very clear that the recent events were well planned and orchestrated to remove me as the prime minister for unsubstantiated reasons." "I want to show the nation that the government is fully intent and nothing will move us. We must and will never bow down to the evil intention of a few people," he added. Sogavare blamed outside interference for stirring up the protests calling for his resignation, with a thinly veiled reference to Taiwan and the United States. Taiwan Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou said in a statement: “We have nothing to do with the unrest”. Also read | Solomon islands riots: What’s behind the protests? Many of the protesters come from the most populous province of Malaita, where there is resentment toward the government and opposition to its 2019 decision to end diplomatic ties with Taiwan and establish formal links with China. China and Taiwan have been rivals in the South Pacific for decades with some island nations switching allegiances. China views Taiwan as a wayward province with no right to state-to-state ties, which the government in Taipei hotly disputes. Only 15 countries maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Also read | Taiwan leader meets Solomons envoy to shore up ties over China "We must and will never bow down to the evil intention of a few people. We must stand up to intimidation, bullying and violence. We owe this to our children and the majority of our people who cannot defend themselves," the Solomon Islands leader said. "Rest assured that they (instigators) will face the full brunt of the law and arrests are already being made as investigations continue, with more arrests to follow," he added. Critics have blamed the unrest on complaints of a lack of government services and accountability, corruption and Chinese businesses giving jobs to foreigners instead of locals. (With inputs from agencies)

Solomon Islands: PM Manasseh Sogavare defies pressure to resign after unrest

Solomon&nbsp;Islands&nbsp;police have found three bodies in a burned-out building, Australian media said on Saturday, as police made more than a hundred arrests following rioting in the South Pacific capital in the past several days.

Charred bodies were discovered in a store in the Chinatown district late on Friday, Australia's national broadcaster ABC said, citing a report from a security guard.

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Many of the protesters come from the most populous province of Malaita, where there is resentment toward the government and opposition to its 2019 decision to end diplomatic ties with Taiwan and establish formal links with China.

Forensic teams have launched an investigation and were still on the scene, but the cause of the deaths was unclear, ABC quoted police as saying.

Buildings in the Chinatown neighbourhood were looted and burnt during the rioting in the capital.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/on-pm-sogavares-request-australias-police-begins-to-take-control-of-solomon-islands-capital-432045" hreflang="en">On PM Sogavare's request, Australia's police begins to take control of Solomon Islands’&nbsp;capital&nbsp;</a>

More than a hundred people were arrested for rioting and looting linked to the current protests, the Royal&nbsp;Solomon&nbsp;Islands&nbsp;Police Force said in a statement on Saturday.

Local police have been backed up by arrivals from Papua New Guinea and Australia.

Some 50 officers from the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary arrived in Honiara on Friday, a day after Australia sent its own forces to the capital, both in response to requests from the&nbsp;Solomon&nbsp;Islands&nbsp;government.

"Australia and Papua New Guinea are concerned about the violent turn that protests have taken in Honiara and jointly emphasise the importance of resolving tensions peacefully," said Papua New Guinea's minister for foreign affairs Soroi Eoe, and Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne.

"We are aiming to help restore calm and allow normal constitutional processes to operate," they said in a joint statement on Saturday.

Solomon Islands police have found three bodies in a burned-out building, Australian media said on Saturday, as police made more than a hundred arrests following rioting in the South Pacific capital in the past several days.

Solomon Islands police have found three bodies in a burned-out building, Australian media said on Saturday, as police made more than a hundred arrests following rioting in the South Pacific capital in the past several days. Charred bodies were discovered in a store in the Chinatown district late on Friday, Australia's national broadcaster ABC said, citing a report from a security guard. Many of the protesters come from the most populous province of Malaita, where there is resentment toward the government and opposition to its 2019 decision to end diplomatic ties with Taiwan and establish formal links with China. Forensic teams have launched an investigation and were still on the scene, but the cause of the deaths was unclear, ABC quoted police as saying. Buildings in the Chinatown neighbourhood were looted and burnt during the rioting in the capital. Also read | On PM Sogavare's request, Australia's police begins to take control of Solomon Islands’ capital More than a hundred people were arrested for rioting and looting linked to the current protests, the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force said in a statement on Saturday. Local police have been backed up by arrivals from Papua New Guinea and Australia. Some 50 officers from the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary arrived in Honiara on Friday, a day after Australia sent its own forces to the capital, both in response to requests from the Solomon Islands government. "Australia and Papua New Guinea are concerned about the violent turn that protests have taken in Honiara and jointly emphasise the importance of resolving tensions peacefully," said Papua New Guinea's minister for foreign affairs Soroi Eoe, and Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne. "We are aiming to help restore calm and allow normal constitutional processes to operate," they said in a joint statement on Saturday.

Solomon Islands police find 3 bodies, make arrests

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Solomon Islands: PM Manasseh Sogavare defies pressure to resign after unrest

Solomon Islands police find 3 bodies, make arrests