Australia is sending more troops and police officers to the Solomons Wednesday as the newly elected prime minister called for calm amid civil unrest in the South Pacific nation's capital of Honiara over Tuesday's parliamentary vote.

The vote saw Snyder Rini elected the country's new prime minister.

Supporters of rival candidate, Job Dudley Tausinga, then took to the street of the capital, Honiara, claiming the vote was fixed,according to Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio.

The violence, in which at least 17 Australian police officers have been injured, is the worst unrest in Honiara since Australia,New Zealand and other Pacific governments intervened in 2003 to help end years of bloody ethnic gang conflict.

Australia now maintains 282 police officers in the Solomon Islands with the support of 50 soldiers.

Rini, who is reportedly to have been forced into protective custody at an undisclosed location, appealed for calm late Wednesday after thousands of protesters marched on government house earlier in the day, threatening widespread destruction in the capital if Rini had not resigned by 6:99 p.m. (0700 GMT).

But he made no reference to demands for his resignation in a brief public statement.

A curfew was declared in Honiara Wednesday night.

However, there are hopes that peace will be restored quickly with the arrival of 180 Australian police and troop reinforcements Wednesday night, Australian Associated Press said.

In response to a written request from the Solomon Islands government, Australian Prime Minister John Howard announced Wednesday that Australia is sending 110 troops and an extra of some 70 policemen to the Solomon Islands.

Commander of the Australian troops headed for the Solomons, Army Brigadier Mick Slater, has said the group is prepared for an extended deployment to put down civil unrest and restore peace. He said the group will stay in the country "until the job is done."

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said further deployments would likely be needed.

Meanwhile, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has reviewed and reissued its travel advisory to the South Pacific nation, warning Australians against traveling there. The overall level of the advice has increased.

Editor: Yan