The town of Mount Hagen was filled to capacity on Saturday as members of the security forces took to the streets after launching the election security operations.

A march involving more than 2000 men and women toured around the town before being led to the Queen’s park where Police Commissioner Gari Baki spoke to the crowd. Baki said his forces were prepared to ensure peaceful elections.

The previous elections in 2002 saw violence and ballot-rigging that eventually prevented returns from some highland constituencies. This time around, the biggest police operation in the country’s history is underway to ensure the elections go as planned.

The first contingent of troops arrived in Mount Hagen over the weekend where rival factions have already clashed leaving several people with knife and axe wounds.