Solomons on alert amid no-confidence vote for PM

HONIARA, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Security forces in the Solomon Islands were on alert against riots and civil unrest on Thursday as Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare faced a parliamentary no-confidence vote in the restive South Pacific nation.

Sogavare's future is in doubt with Opposition Leader Fred Fono looking to have the numbers to defeat him in a no-confidence motion being debated in the parliament, but which security forces fear may prompt a repeat of riots in 2006.

The Solomon Islands police force and international peacekeepers sent to the country in 2003 to quell ethnic fighting had sealed off the parliament as debate on the motion began.

Patrols in the capital Honiara were also stepped up after another former prime minister Allan Kemakeza, who has remained neutral during a month-long power struggle, swung his support behind Fono earlier this week.

Violence flared in the Solomons on April 18 last year when rioters destroyed large parts of the capital Honiara's China Town district following the election of Snyder Rini as prime minister.

Sogavare became prime minister in the aftermath of the violence after international Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands, or RAMSI, troops and police battled rioters and Rini was forced to step down.

Sogavare has strained relations with regional heavyweights and major aid donors Australia and New Zealand, accusing Canberra of bullying and meddling in Solomons internal affairs. He has also demanded the withdrawal of RAMSI forces.

Sogavare infuriated Australia by appointing Julian Moti, an Australian wanted over charges he raped a 13-year-old girl in Vanuatu in 1997, as his Attorney-General.

Fono has pledged to restore relations with Australia and place Moti on a plane to Canberra if he wins power.

Solomons police deputy commissioner Peter Marshall told local media that police were not supporting Fono's opposition, despite sealing off the opposition headquarters in a hotel.

"We want to be fair and balanced and utterly reject any suggestion that RAMSI ... is involved in partisan security operations," Marshall told the Solomon Star. (Writing by Rob Taylor; editing by Bill Tarrant)