21 Aug 2008

Forum leaders consider issue of Fiji

10:50 am on 21 August 2008

Pacific Island leaders will today agree on a response to a report by forum foreign ministers about the best way to move Fiji towards free and fair elections.

They're meeting for a day-long retreat at the annual leaders summit of the Pacific Islands Forum in Niue.

Fiji's interim leader has indicated the country could withdraw from the group if the leaders accept the report, which finds there's no practical barrier to holding elections by next March.

The New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark says she expects the Pacific leaders will support the report's findings.

"I've spoken to the Samoan Prime Minister, who is on the group, Papua New Guinea's foreign minister, spoken to a number of leaders. People are feeling very frustrated. They feel the least the Commodore could have done is come to Niue"