Papua New Guinea PM sacks anti-graft body for probing him

Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill, has disbanded the country's anti-corruption body after it had served warrant for his arrest on corruption allegations.

O'Neill said on Wednesday in Port Moresby that the body, 'Task force Sweep', had been politically compromised.

He said the deputy police commissioner and the attorney- general had since been sacked on corruption allegations.

The prime minister announced that a new commission of inquiry to be led by Australian Judge, Warwick Andrew, would be set up to investigate the charges against him.

An official, who preferred anonymity, said the allegation was about a letter supposedly signed by O'Neill, illegally authorising millions of dollars to be paid to a local law firm.

He said O'Neill had insisted that the signature on the letter was forged. NAN