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Australian FM Arrives in Suva for Talks with Fiji Commander
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer arrived in Suva Thursday for face-to-face talks with Fiji's military ruler Commander Frank Bainimarama to resolve the country's hostage crisis, according to the Australian Associated Press.
Downer is part of a delegation from Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Botswana, sent by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) to press for a quick return to constitutional government in Fiji.
Meanwhile, defense ministers from Australia and New Zealand John Moore and Mark Burton issued a joint communique Thursday after a meeting following talks in Wellington, stressing that they would not accept Fiji or the Solomon Islands abandoning their constitutional processes.
The AAP said Australian troop-landing ship HMAS Manoora was moved closer to Honiara Thursday in the hope of becoming a venue for peace talks there.
The ship's presence off Guadalcanal has worried Malaitan Eagle force MEF controlled the Solomons capital. MEF warned Australia earlier against armed intervention.
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