Julian Moti.Moti sought in Australia on child sex charges was sworn in Tuesday as the Solomon Islands' attorney general. (File Photo)

    BEIJING, July 11 (Xinhuanet) -- A lawyer wanted in Australia for child sex abuse was appointed as the Solomon Islands' attorney general, triggering angers and criticism from Canberra, media reported Wednesday.

    The island nation's Governor General Nathaniel Waena on Tuesday swore in Julian Moti, the Australian who was accused of raping a 13-year-old girl in Vanuatu in 1997, as attorney general at a ceremony at Government House in the capital Honiara.

    Solomons Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, a close personal friend of Moti, repeatedly blocked Australia's efforts to have the Australian lawyer returned, accusing Canberra of seeking Moti for political reasons.

    Australia denies the claim and says it's extraordinary that a man accused of child sex offences is now the chief legal officer of the Solomon Islands.

    "It is a very provocative and insensitive thing for somebody who is wanted on a criminal charge in this country to be sworn in as the Attorney-General," Australian Prime Minister John Howard said in Sydney.

    Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Moti's appointment was "a poor reflection on the quality of government in the Solomon Islands."

    Moti, in a speech delivered in Honiara as he took his oath of office, insisted he was innocent.

    Relations between the Solomon Islands and Australia have hit rock-bottom over the Moti saga, which began when he evaded extradition while in Papua New Guinea last year and fled to the Solomon Islands.

    (Agencies)

Solomon's PM rejects Australia's criticism over Moti

    CANBERRA, July 11 (Xinhua) -- The Solomon Islands government has rejected Australia's criticism over the swearing-in of Julian Moti, an Australian lawyer wanted by Australia for child sex charges, as the Pacific country's attorney-general, according to local media Wednesday.

    Moti was sworn-in as attorney-general at Government House in the Solomon Islands capital of Honiara on Tuesday. Full story