Papua New Guinea elects James Marape as prime minister

By Muhammed Nusret Altun and Vakkas Dogantekin

ANKARA (AA) - Papua New Guinea chose James Marape as its new prime minister Thursday following weeks of political uncertainty.

Lawmakers elected Marape, a former finance minister, by an overwhelming majority.

Marape led a wave of resignations in April in protest against a major gas development deal struck this year with French oil giant Total, questioning whether local communities and firms would benefit from it.

His appointment comes after outgoing leader Peter O'Neill resigned Wednesday after seven years in power.

O'Neill came under bipartisan pressure amid growing anger over the sharing of resource project revenues.

Papua New Guinea, with a population of over 7 million, has rich reserves of gold, copper and oil and gas.