Barrick Gold has suspended operations at its Porgera gold mine in Papua New Guinea until Thursday after tribal violence in the region killed at least 20.
Pope Francis on Saturday called for better treatment of workers in Papua New Guinea, a nation that has become a major target of international companies for its gas, gold and other reserves.
Pope Francis arrived in Papua New Guinea on Friday evening from Indonesia, where the leader of the global Catholic Church will continue an ambitious 12-day tour across Southeast Asia and Oceania.
Pope Francis left Rome on Monday for Jakarta, where the 87-year-old leader of the global Catholic Church will start an ambitious 12-day tour to four countries in Southeast Asia.
Nine people were killed in the rioting in capital city Port Moresby and seven were killed in Lae, in the country's north, Australian state broadcaster ABC reported on Thursday, citing police.
Papua New Guinea will open an embassy in Jerusalem next week during a visit by Prime Minister James Marape, a spokesperson for his office said on Monday.