Bougainville

The Bougainville President says his people will suffer if a spat between Papua New Guinea and Australia is not quickly resolved.

The acting elections commissioner in Bougainville, George Manu, says the election, the first run by Bougainvilleans themselves, has gone smoothly. Audio

A chief from Kieta in Bougainville is behind bars at Arawa police station after ordering his people not to vote in the elections for the autonomous government in the Papua New Guinea region.

Tasman Island in the Atolls constituency of North Bougainville is the final constituency yet to complete polling in the Bougainville election.

The electoral commissioner in the Papua New Guinea region of Bougainville has shut down polling stations for people voting outside their constituencies after reports of abuse.

Papua New Guinea has announced a ban on Australians travelling to Bougainville, after Canberra said it plans to build a diplomatic mission on the island.

Bougainville officials say almost all electorates have now completed voting in the elections, which are scheduled to run until next Monday.

Bougainville's acting electoral commissioner has been defending the team of foreign observers after complaints of interference from some voters.

The acting Bougainville electoral commissioner, George Manu, says he will ask police to investigate an incident in Buka where a candidate shut down a polling station.

Polling in the Bougainville elections for those people living outside the region is expected to be completed today.

The acting Bougainville Electoral Commissioner, George Manu, is urging all eligible voters to ensure they cast their votes in the autonomous government poll, which runs until May the 25th.

Australia has unveiled plans to open a foreign mission in the autonomous Papua New Guinea province of Bougainville.

The Bougainville Electoral Commission has come under fire as allegations emerge of voters being turned away from ballot stations during elections in the self-ruling PNG province.

A Pacific Islands Forum team is among the observers for the Bougainville elections that got underway this morning.

Voters in the autonomous Papua New Guinea region of Bougainvilleans today begin electing a parliament that will play a key role in the peace process.

A campaigner for women's rights on Bougainville says many people remain opposed to a quick return to mining in the region.

As Bougainville heads into a key election from Monday a leading figure in the aid community says the four weeks of campaigning have gone very peacefully.

Tsunami warnings for Bougainville, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands have been lifted after a magnitude 7 earthquake on Thursday evening.