Fiji key issue for Pacific summit

Cmdr Bainimarama seized power in Fiji in a bloodless coup last year

An annual Pacific regional summit has opened in Tonga, with the issue of how to deal with Fiji following last year's coup high on the agenda.

Both Australia and New Zealand have imposed sanctions on Fiji's military rulers, and want regional leaders to urge Fiji to return to democratic rule.

But other Pacific leaders have suggested a more conciliatory approach.

Leaders from 16 nations are attending the two-day Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Tonga's capital, Nuku'alofa.

Fiji's military seized power in a bloodless coup in December 2006, ousting the democratically-elected leader Laisenia Qarase.

In June, coup leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama said his cabinet had agreed "in principle" to hold elections by March 2009.

'Family member'

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, arriving in Tonga on Monday, said he wanted to see an end to Fiji's "coup culture".

"I hope that there will be a real collective view here that we need to, in Fiji, move on from coups and help Fiji get back to democracy," he said.

On Tuesday New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark rejected a bilateral meeting with Cmdr Bainimarama.

Instead she called for a "clear commitment" from the Fijian authorities to stick to a timetable for a return to democracy.

But Papua New Guinea's leader, Michael Somare, said Fiji needed understanding and assistance.

"We wouldn't be doing justice to our objectives if we sought sole punitive action for a member of our family," he said at a welcoming ceremony.

A row over an Australian-led peacekeeping force which is helping to restore order in the Solomon Islands is also expected to feature at the summit.

Solomon Islands leader Manasseh Sogavare is boycotting the forum because he says it is not addressing his complaints that the mission is undermining his country's sovereignty.

Climate change and fishing rights are also expected to come up.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard is missing the summit because of campaigning for the 24 November polls.