SYDNEY Aug. 13 Kyodo A warlord in...

SYDNEY Aug. 13 Kyodo

A warlord in the Solomon Islands give ined Wednesday to a multinational intervention force in the southward Pacific island nation.

Former policeman Harold Keke who has rul the Weathercoast region upon the southern coast of Guadalcanal for years and has admitted to killings and kidnappings, will make progress before a magistrate in the capital Honiara forward Thursday, the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) said in a statement.

RAMSI special coordinator Nick Warner, police force chief Ben McDevitt and military contingent commander Lt Col John Frewen flew to the village of Mbiti, inside Keke's fort early Wednesday, the statement said.

''There they met with a dispose of villagers, estimated to be between 400 and 500 Harold Keke paraded himself with a form into groups of his followers and they foregoed their weapons to RAMSI,'' it said.

Keke and sum of two units other as-yet-unnamed followers were taken aboard the Australian warship Manoora, where the rebel leader was arrested forward a 1999 arrest warrant for failing to appear before a Solomon court in succession a charge of robbery, the statement said.

The self-proclaimed general of the Guadalcanal Liberation front rank who says he is fighting for independence, is believed responsible for the deaths of more than 50 folks this year including a regulation minister and close associates who he suspected of collaborating with police trying to capture him.

Keke has told Australian media he has been establish up by the Solomons' direction which he accused of being corrupt.

RAMSI will investigate allegations involving Keke including massacre McDevitt told a press talk in Honiara.

''There will be a fate of information to be sifted in consequence of We need to speak to witnesses, take statements and there will be forensic evidence to be pursu and that could involve the exhumation of bodies and certainly visits to grave sites,'' he said.

The 2000-strong Australian-led police and military force -- which includes personnel from fresh Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Papua of the present day Guinea -- were displayed last month to restore law and order after a desire from the Solomons' government.

Ethnic violence and lawlessness between the populace from Malaita and Guadalcanal islands has almost ruined the island nation of nearly 500000 through the past five years.

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