The chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, the Tongan prime minister, has announced the resignation of the organisation's secretary general.
Greg Urwin, a former Australian diplomat who was appointed as secretary general four and a half years ago, has resigned because of ill health.
A spokesperson for the Tongan government, Lopeti Senituli, says it regrets Mr Urwin's resignation.
"The honorable prime minister Dr Feleti Sevele has officially announced that he has received Greg Urwin's letter announcing his intention to resign based on medical grounds. The honorable prime minister has instructed the Secretariat in Suva to continue as normal with Mr Feleti Teo as the acting secretary general."
Lopeti Senituli says the Tongan prime minister will consult with the other leaders about Mr Urwin's replacement.
