Papua New Guinea's governor-general has sworn in Sir Michael Somare's cabinet but his rival Peter O'Neill and his supporters in parliament show no sign of backing down.
Sir Michael Ogio swore in the 19-member Somare cabinet at Government House in Port Moresby on Wednesday morning but over at parliament Mr O'Neill and his group of about 50 MPs voted to demand Mr O'Neill be sworn in as prime minister.
Meanwhile, Somare supporters maintain the 76-year-old political veteran does not need to be sworn in, because the Supreme Court decision that sparked PNG's political crisis has reinstated him as prime minister.
In parliament, Mr O'Neill's supporters voted unopposed for a motion requiring police commissioner Tom Kulunga to "assist" the governor general on his journey to parliament to swear in Mr O'Neill.
A spokesman for the Royal Papua New Guinea Police Constabulary said the force's hierarchy was deciding what to do with the O'Neill parliament's order.
"It is something we are considering in-house," the spokesman told AAP.
"All options are being considered."
The force currently has two police commissioners - Tom Kulunga, appointed by O'Neill, and Fred Yakasa, who was reappointed by Sir Michael Somare on Monday night.
The police force has stressed that its role is to maintain law and order.
There is a small contingent of police officers loyal to the Somare camp.
In parliament, Mr O'Neill's manager of government business moved several motions banning Sir Michael and his cabinet from saying they are the government.
The MPs passed a resolution requiring the governor-general to attend parliament at 2pm (1500 AEDT) to swear in Mr O'Neill.
There were about 50 MPs supporting Mr O'Neill in parliament on Wednesday, including speaker Jeffery Nape.
Sir Michael's supporters were holed up at Port Moresby's Ela beach hotel, where they have held cabinet meetings since Monday.
Meanwhile, PNG's defence force chief has dismissed rumours of a possible military coup.
"The defence force neither seeks, nor would accept, any part to play in the politics of this country," defence force chief Brigadier General Francis Agwi told the Post-Courier newspaper.
"The PNGDF has no political position and takes no political sides."
In Australia, Defence Minister Stephen Smith said there was no reason for the Australian armed forces to get involved.
"We want to see these matters resolved in accordance with PNG's constitution," he said.
PNG's political crisis erupted on Monday when the Supreme Court ruled Mr O'Neill's August election was unconstitutional and Sir Michael should be reinstated as prime minister.
The decision triggered a stand-off on Tuesday, when MPs loyal to Mr O'Neill stormed past armed guards at the gates of Government House following an announcement by Sir Michael's camp that the political veteran was about to be sworn in.
Demanding an audience with the governor-general, the MPs burst through a blockade of police armed with machine guns and waited at the gate until Mr O'Neill was granted an audience.
Following that meeting, the governor general told Mr O'Neill he would make his decision on the prime ministership in writing on Wednesday.
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