PM boosts her guard because of Fiji risks

Helen Clark

John Howard is bringing his own sizeable security contingent to the Pacific Islands Forum, and Helen Clark is believed to have increased the usual number of diplomatic protection squad members who travel with her.

But Fiji has advised all countries that their police will not be able to bring in their weapons - they will be impounded at Nadi Airport.

Fijian Foreign Affairs Ministry chief executive officer Isikeli Mataitoga was reported yesterday as saying Australian officials favoured using their own security detail for Mr Howard, who would have a different arrangement from other delegates to the forum, which opens on Monday.

A number of his security staff are already in Nadi, where meetings have been held with Fiji police.

The bad blood between the Australian Prime Minister and the leaders of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands has continued unabated this week - although it is not clear to what extent this has affected Mr Howard's security plans.

Helen Clark expressed her own concerns this week after renewed rumblings from the Fiji military. On Wednesday she said she was taking the renewed threats to remove the Government seriously, and the Weekend Herald understands that four, instead of the usual one or two, protection squad members will accompany her.

A spokeswoman said the Prime Minister did not want to go into detail but her security was, as usual, in the hands of the police.

Fiji's assistant commissioner operations, Samuela Matakibau, told the Weekend Herald "weapons will not be able to come into the country, they will have to be surrendered at the airport".

It was standard practice, he said, and Mr Howard's team was happy with the security being provided.

United States Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill is set to visit the forum and Mr Matakibau did not believe the weapons ban would be a problem for him.

He would not comment on how many Fiji police were engaged in security for the forum.

But he said there was nothing to worry about in regard to the military, whose outbursts were yesterday labelled as "laughable"by Fiji Foreign Minister Kaliopate Tavola.

PNG Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare and Solomons Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare arrived late on Thursday, but will not hold a formal meeting with other Melanesian leaders untiltomorrow.

Officials and Foreign Ministers of the four Melanesian countries met yesterday, however, and Fiji Islands Business journalist Samisoni Pareti told the Weekend Herald late yesterday that he believed one of the countries had already nominated another candidate for Pacific Island Forum secretary-general.