Solomons force prepares to sail
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Name: Solomon Islands
Area: 28,450 sq km
Capital: Honiara
Population: 0.5 million (2002)
Prime Minister: Sir Allan Kemakeza
GDP: $264.0 million (2001)
Currency: Solomons Island dollar (About 5.5 to $US)
Main industries: Agriculture, fishing, mining, forestry
Main export destination: Japan
Main import source: Australia
Source: Australian government
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SYDNEY, Australia (CNN) -- The advance guard of a multi-national peacekeeping force is readying in the Australian city of Townsville to sail next week to the troubled Solomon Islands.
Australian navy ship HMAS Manoora will sail on Monday for the Solomons capital Honiara, Australian Defence Minister Robert Hill said on Friday.
"The Manoora is being deployed to ensure it can be in place for the arrival by air of police and military elements that the government may decide to send to the Solomons," Hill said in a statement.
The vessel will act as a command and logistic center as well as provide medical service to the 2000-strong Australian-led force of police, military troops and civilian administrators.
The deployment of the force will be the largest military deployment in the South Pacific since World War II and has been legalized by the Solomons parliament.
New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa have all agreed to contribute to the force to go to the islands, about 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) northeast of Australia.
The legislation allows peacekeepers to use reasonable force in the country, where security conditions have deteriorated since ethnic violence began in 1998.
There is also widespread support for the peacekeeping force among the Solomons Islands' 450,000 strong population.
Solomons Prime Minister Sir Allan Kemakeza urged members of parliament last week to support the motion, saying the country needed help that was "genuine, sincere and honest.''
Kemakeza asked Australia for assistance earlier this year.
Australia offered to lead the force with 1,500 police, troops and civilian administrators as well as the navy command ship, which will also provide medical services.
Although the military presence may remain only for several weeks, police and civil administrators may stay in the Solomons for years.
