7 Nov 2010

Clinton praises Australia for its peacekeeping role

10:10 pm on 7 November 2010

US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, has praised Australia's peacekeeping efforts in the Asia-Pacific region, including in Solomon Islands and East Timor.

Mrs Clinton is in Melbourne where she reaffirmed plans to draw down US troops from Afghanistan next year.

Mrs Clinton says she is seeing signs of progress in Afghanistan.

She says people on the ground are telling her that international forces are having an impact, despite the death toll.

Mrs Clinton said the United States has no better friend than Australia and she thanked Australia for its support in the aftermath of the 11 September terrorist attacks.

On Monday Mrs Clinton will take part in the annual Australia-US ministerial talks, where the war in Afghanistan and the rise of China will be prominent topics.

Clinton urges Fiji to return to democracy

Mrs Clinton urged Fiji's military regime to return the Pacific island nation to democracy.

Mrs Clinton said the US and Australia will work together to persuade the military government of Frank Bainimarama to meet its commitment to democracy.

The military leader came to power in a coup 19 months ago and dismissed the country's judiciary and many public servants.

Elections were supposed to have been held by now but Commodore Bainimarama says the earliest they will be held, will be 2014.