Solomon Islands' pro-China prime minister reelected to parliament

SYDNEY -- Manasseh Sogavare, the China-friendly prime minister of the Solomon Islands, has retained his seat in parliament after a general election held this week, local media reported late on Friday, as tensions surrounding relations with Beijing percolate in the Pacific island nation.

Sogavare is now one step closer to becoming the Solomon Islands' first incumbent to be reelected consecutively as prime minister after serving a full term in office. The archipelago held elections Wednesday to elect 50 members of the legislature for the first time in five years.