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Anne Easby-Smith, left, and Trace Robbins, right, who work for House Speaker John Boehner, help to prepare the Rayburn Room on Capitol Hill in Washington,Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013, where members of the House of Representatives will pose for pictures at an oath of office ceremony with Boehner. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
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The U.S. Capitol is seen amid reflections from inside the Cannon House Office Building on the last day of the 112th Congress, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013. On Thursday, all members of the House of Representatives and one third of the Senate will be sworn in as the 113th Congress begins its work. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
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FILE - In this Nov. 13, 2012 file photo, a man walks in front of the Capitol in Washington. The debate in Washington over taxes and spending is likely to continue damaging the fragile economy well into 2013. The political standoff has already taken an economic toll, creating uncertainty about the future and discouraging consumers from spending and businesses from hiring and investing. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
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FILE - This Friday, Dec. 28, 2012, file photo shows the Capitol dome on Capitol Hill in Washington. The brinkmanship in Washington over taxes and spending is likely to continue damaging the fragile economy well into 2013. The political standoff has already taken an economic toll, creating uncertainty about the future and discouraging consumers from spending and businesses from hiring and investing. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
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Clouds roil over the White House in Washington on the morning of Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012, as Washington has less than 48 hours to avert the “fiscal cliff,” a series of tax increases and spending cuts set to take hold on Jan. 1. Republican and Democratic negotiators in the Senate were hoping to reach a deal to avoid going over the cliff on Sunday. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
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House Minority Whip Rep. Steny Hoyer of Md., pauses during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012, where he urged House Republicans to end the pro forma session and call the House back into legislative session to negotiate a solution to the fiscal cliff. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)
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President Barack Obama walks past a Marine honor guard as he steps off the Marine One helicopter and walks on the South Lawn at the White House in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012, as he returned early from his Hawaii vacation for meetings on the fiscal cliff. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Suspect flees in sorcery murder
A prime suspect in the burning murder of Kepari Leniata in the Western Highlands of Papua New Guinea is believed to have fled to a neighbouring province.
The 20-year-old mother of one was tortured, stripped and set on fire in the Western Highlands capital Mt Hagen on Wednesday after being accused of sorcery.
Police spokesman Dominic Kakas told AAP that Kepari's husband is being sought by police but may have fled to nearby Enga province.
"He is the prime suspect," Mr Kakas said, declining to name him.
"He may have fled to Enga.
"Deputy police commissioner Simon Kauba has just blasted the men in a briefing for not arresting anyone. It happened in broad daylight and there were hundreds of witnesses."
Police at the scene reportedly tried to stop the attack but were outmatched by members of the crowd.
Ms Leniata was accused of sorcery after a six-year-old relative of her attackers died in Mt Hagen Hospital the night before.
It is unknown if Ms Leniata was related to the boy.
In a statement released late on Thursday, police commissioner Tom Kulunga said the murder was "shocking and devilish".
"We are in the 21st century and this is totally unacceptable," he said.
He said he wanted a special court set up to deal with sorcery-related cases as well as an education campaign in the PNG's provinces.
"Churches, NGOs, and relevant government departments need to take some responsibility in addressing this issue so that we end, if not minimise, further killings," he said.
Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, in voicing his disgust at what he termed a barbaric killing, pledged to toughen laws around sorcery-related killings.
The Australian high commission in Port Moresby and the US embassy have also condemned the killing.
The US has called for a partnership to help reduce violence against women in the Pacific.
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