Former PNG PM Michael Somare dies

SYDNEY: Papua New Guinea’s first prime minister, Michael Somare, has died, his daughter said yesterday. He was 84.

Known as the ‘‘father of the nation’’, Somare led the Pacific archipelago to independence from Australia in 1975 and served four times as prime minister.

He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer early this month, his daughter, Betha Somare, said.

Many Papua New Guineans had embraced her father as their own ‘‘father and grandfather’’, Ms Somare said.

Before independence, Somare was the chief minister of the Australianadministered territory of Papua New Guinea. He most recently served as the country’s leader briefly in 2011.

PNG Prime Minister James Marape said Somare was now resting after the ‘‘pain and toils of life’’ and was ‘‘unmatched by anyone of us who comes after him’’.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison tweeted yesterday that Somare had been a ‘‘great friend’’ to Australia. — Reuters