Armed rebels in the Solomon Islands, which has been racked by 18 months of ethnic violence, seized control of the South Pacific nation's capital, Honiara, yesterday and are demanding that the Prime Minister, Mr Bartholomew Ulufa'alu, resign.
Australian and New Zealand foreign affairs departments said the Malaita Eagles militia group had detained the Prime Minister at his home early yesterday - the second coup in the South Pacific in two weeks, after gunmen raided the Fiji parliament.
New Zealand said the Prime Minister was being held at gunpoint.
"We had advice that the Prime Minister is being held at gunpoint by six armed men," said Mr Brad Tatterfield, a spokesman for the New Zealand Foreign Ministry.
But the Australian Foreign Minister, Mr Alexander Downer, said he believed the Prime Minister was free to move around Honiara provided he was escorted by Malaita Eagles militia.
"The Prime Minister is able to move freely around . . . although he does have Malaita Eagles force people with him, but he is not being confined to any one location or held hostage."
A report from the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) radio said the Prime Minister was safe at home, but had been put under what the rebels called "protective care".
"The disarming of his normal personal security officers has in no way put his life at risk," said the SIBC.
About 60 people have been killed in fighting in the past 18 months between rival ethnic groups from the main island of Guadalcanal and Malaita island - the Isatabu Revolutionary Front from Guadalcanal and the Malaita Eagles.
The simmering ethnic dispute dates back to the second World War, with Guadalcanal militants resentful of migration to their island by Malaitans who have taken top jobs in Honiara.
Australia said the Malaita Eagles moved into Honiara early in the morning, taking over key installations including police stations and the nation's telecommunications centre, cutting the nation of 455,500 people off from the rest of the world.
All businesses and banks were closed in Honiara and the airport closed, said the SIBC. All flights into Honiara have been cancelled. "Australians currently in Honiara should stay indoors, exercise a high level of personal security awareness and await further advice," said Australian foreign affairs officials.
But the Malaita Eagles leader, Mr Andrew Nori, said the Prime Minister would be freed within the next few days, once the situation in the capital calmed down, the SIBC said.
Mr Nori told a news conference in Honiara yesterday that militia had raided police armouries and were now in complete control of security in the Solomons. The Solomons does not have a military.
"Mr Nori said the presence of armed men on the streets of Honiara was to avoid looting and damages to properties," the SIBC reported.
Mr Nori said Mr Ulufa'alu had been handed a letter asking for his resignation and that he had agreed to hold a cabinet meeting to discuss "possible terms of reference for his resignation".