23 Jan 2009

Pacific forum to discuss Fiji postponed - reports

10:22 pm on 23 January 2009

A special Pacific Islands Forum meeting to discuss Fiji's membership has been postponed, according to reports.

The New Zealand Government declined to comment on Friday night. However, it says it is aware of the situation and the reports coming out of Papua New Guinea.

The meeting was scheduled to be held in the PNG capital Port Moresby on Tuesday.

It was convened after Fiji interim prime minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama broke promises on a timetable to restore democracy in the nation following his December 2006 coup.

The Australian Associated Press reported that the Australian and PNG governments said on Friday night the meeting had been postponed.

Earlier this week, Commodore Bainimarama wanted the meeting deferred, saying he would not attend as he needed to lead relief work after recent floods in Fiji that killed at least 11 people.

PNG Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare called for the talks to be rescheduled to 10 February so Commodore Bainimarama could attend.