Henderson Field (Solomons Islands), July 24: An Australia Air Force Hercules touched down here shortly after 7:00 am today (0130 hours IST) to offload police and military as part of an intervention force to restore law and order in the troubled Solomon Islands. Shortly after the flight landed about 20 gun-toting soldiers disembarked and took defensive positions around the aircraft.
However, there was only foreign media to greet their arrival and a gathering of local police. The Hercules was the first of 13 scheduled flights today bringing in logistics equipment and 400 police and soldiers.
The Australian amphibious assault ship Hmas Manoora remained just offshore but is due later today to land another 400 troops on red beach near here, some 20 kilometres from the capital Honiara.
Today's flights will also bring in a contingent of New Zealand and Fijian personnel. Bureau Report