19 Jun 2015

Pacific Forum ready to help if Nauru asks

5:13 pm on 19 June 2015

The Pacific Islands Forum's Secretariat says it is ready to assist Nauru if the government seeks help amid an ongoing political crisis there.

Protests this week have seen MPs and others arrested, the government calling out riot police and seeking help from the security teams at the Australian-run detention camps.

Protestors have threatened to shut access to the hotel used by the hundreds of Australians staffing the camps.

The Australian government, which has poured millions of dollars into Nauru as part of its policy to process asylum seekers abroad, has not commented on the crisis.

New Zealand is also providing aid to the Nauru government, particularly to the law and justice sector, but the Foreign Minister Murray McCully has not had any comment on the latest developments.

The Forum Secretariat says the issues are primarily for Nauru to settle and resolve.

It says it is in contact with the Nauru government nd is ready to help if asked.

Mathew Batsiua being escorted into court

Former minister Mathew Batsiua was arrested on Tuesday amid anti-government protest Photo: SUPPLIED

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