Papua New Guinea mutiny leader Yaura Sasa arrested

“The state ordered me to do it,” Australia’s ABC News quoted him as saying.

He warned that the soldiers loyal to him could resort to violence if he was not able to see them.

“I must go and talk to the troops to stop this. Because my absence can mean something. I must stop this. I must stop this situation from getting out of hand,” he told reporters.

Sir Michael has not publicly commented on the developments.

The leadership crisis began after Sir Michael left Papua New Guinea in March 2011 to receive treatment for a heart condition and remained away for five months. His family said he was standing down from politics, but later denied this.

The prime ministerial post was declared vacant in August and Mr O’Neill was elected by 70 votes to 24, replacing acting Prime Minister Sam Abal.

But a Supreme Court ruling in December 2011 stated that parliament had acted illegally by electing Mr O’Neill prime minister. The court also ruled in a 3-2 decision that Sir Michael should be ”restored to the office of prime minister”.

On Sunday, Sir Michael repeated his call to be reinstated, but Mr O’Neill, who is backed by the civil service and effectively running the country, has refused to step down.