SYDNEY. .June 5: Rebel gunmen demanded the resignation of Solomon Islands Prime Minister Bartholomew Ulufa'alu today after taking him hostage In the Solomons capital Honiara In a copy-cat South Pacific coup, reports AFP

Ulufa'alu and Solomons governor-general Father John Lapli were kidnapped by six gunmen led by Honiara lawyer Andrew Nori wlille other rebel units combined with elements of the police in seizing key installations

Ulufa'alu. who Is understood Io have been seized at a police station, and Lapli weri' unharmed Monday but held in what Nori, leader of a group known as the Malaita Eagle Force (MEF), said was "protective care."

The police armoury and a government telecommunications centre were in rebel hands

and. while shops stayed open, police and militia patrolled to prevent looting. A curfew was due to begin at 8:00 p.m. (16:00 BST).

Communications from Jhc tiny, impoverished nation were cut and flights suspended after the coup, which comes 18 days after the democratically elected government in neighbouring Fiji was taken hostage.

Solomons Minister of State Alfred Sasako, who last week expressed "grave concern" about the coverage by the Solomon Star of the situation in Fiji, blamed the media Monday for inciting a copy-cat yonp.

A report quoting New Zealand government sources as saying Ulufa'alu had agreed to resign could not be confirmed, but lie had offered to resign last week because of worsening ethnic violence.

His ruling caucus of 33 MPs

from five separate parties, which formed a coalition to give him power three years ago on a platform of promised economic rt-forin. was meeting in Honiara on Monday to discuss the crisis.

The Honiara-based Forum Fisheries Agency said a combined force of Malaita Eagle Force gunmen, prison guards and the Police Special Field Forces had taken over the armoury and the administration of the country.

The coup followed months of ethnic tension and racial clashes In which at least 55 people were known to have died or disappeared

The Eagles and the rival Isatabu Freedom Movement (1FM) have been fighting for 18 months over landrights on the Solomons’ main Island. Guadalcanal, of which Honiara Is the capital.