The Prime Minister, John Howard, said: "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 - the first law officer of the Crown."

But Australia would not withdraw from its leadership of the intervention force dispatched in 2003 to combat ethnic violence and corruption. "The ordinary people of the Solomon Islands want Australia there; they appreciate the help and they will be there irrespective of who is in power in that country," Mr Howard said.

Moti, an ethnic Indian originally from Fiji who became an Australian citizen, is the subject of an Australian extradition request over child sex charges. The charges relate to a prosecution which was dropped in Vanuatu in 1997 involving a 13-year-old girl.
He has claimed to be the victim of a witch-hunt because of his criticism of Australian interference in the internal affairs of the Solomons. He noted yesterday that two-thirds of the country's MPs were present for his swearing-in, though there has been bitter criticism from the Opposition and many community organisations. "Thank you for sticking together and by my side when it really mattered to all of us," he said.
He pledged a full audit of legal issues before the Attorney-General's office, exacerbating concerns that he will be subject to political influence in cases involving alleged corruption.

He would not be involved in representations to Australia about its extradition request, but said Solomons legal representatives would "discuss what was fact and what was fiction in the case which they want to mount against me."

The ceremony came after the appointment of another Indo-Fijian, Jahir Kahn, as Police Commissioner to replace the expelled Australian Shane Castles. Diplomatic sources say they believe Moti has been involved in drafting legislation to make the commissioner more subject to political direction.

And the Government has revived a controversial plan to re-arm local police, who were disarmed after the Australian intervention because many had been linked to ethnic violence and criminal activities.

The Solomon Islands Public Service Commission yesterday stood by its suspension last year of Moti's appointment, pending the Australian charges against him being cleared. That suspension was legally challenged by Moti, but the Government of the Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare, announced it had the power to override the suspension. Yesterday it was the country's Governor-General, Sir Nathaniel Waena, who swore him in.

Australia's Foreign Affairs Minister, Alexander Downer, called for the appointment to be reversed, citing "a pattern of intimidation and removal" of constitutional office holders from positions designed to ensure the Government was held accountable for its actions.