South Pacific forum to discuss Fiji, Solomons

Civil unrest has shaken Fiji in recent months

CANBERRA, Australia (Reuters) -- South Pacific foreign ministers will discuss the political crises in Fiji and the Solomon Islands at a specially convened forum on Thursday and Friday in Samoa, Australia said on Thursday.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the meeting of the South Pacific Forum was convened at the request of Palau President Kuniwo Nakamura, the forum chair.

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"Ministers will discuss the regional security environment, the impact on the region of the current political crises in Fiji and Solomon Islands, and ways in which the South Pacific Forum might facilitate their return to stability, democracy and growth," Downer said in a statement.

Downer said he would attend the forum.

Unrest continued on Thursday in Fiji, where the military was closing in on a gang suspected of shooting dead a soldier and a policeman and where rebel attacks against ethnic Indians were renewed.

Nationalist rebel leader George Speight plunged Fiji into political crisis when he stormed parliament on May 19 in the name of indigenous Fijian rights. He held ethnic Indian prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry hostage for 56 days.

A fragile cease-fire broke down on Tuesday in the Solomons, where about 70 people have died in fighting between rival ethnic militias in the past two years.

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
  •  South Pacific Forum
Australian Broadcasting Corporation Fiji coup crisis special
Fiji live coverage - Parliament Under Siege
The Official Fiji Government Site
  • Fiji Constitution
  • Office of the Prime Minister
U.S. State Dept.: Background Notes -- Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands Home Page
CIA World Factbook 1999 -- Solomon Islands
Lonely Planet - Destination Solomon Islands
Conflict on Solomon Islands, On Location

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