9 Aug 2007

Tonga undecided whether to admit Fiji coup leader for Forum summit

3:57 pm on 9 August 2007

Tonga is yet to decide whether it will admit Fiji's coup leader to attend the Pacific Islands Forum in Nuku'alofa in October.

A spokesman for Tonga's government said a decision on whether Fiji's interim prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, will be allowed into the kingdom will be made within the next two weeks.

Tonga's main island has been under emergency rule and may remain so until after the Forum summit.

Commodore Bainimarama said this week that he would attend the Forum despite objections by politicians in Australia and New Zealand.

He says if they do not want to see him they can remain in New Zealand and Australia, because he will be in Tonga.