PM tells people to 'grow up'

PORT MORESBY (Reuter) - Sir Julius Chan was sworn in as Papua New Guinea's eighth prime minister in 19 years. He promptly told his people to grow up and stop political bickering and economic mismanagement.

Sir Julius, who served as prime minister between 1980 and 1982, said people were becoming disenchanted with the political instability, which had seen almost half its prime ministers gain power through no-confidence votes. 'It's time we grew up,' he told parliament. 'There is no benign colonial master standing behind our right shoulder anymore, telling us what to do.'