Foreign ministers from 16 Pacific countries will meet in Sydney later this week to discuss the political crisis in Fiji amid renewed fears of a coup.

Radio New Zealand International reported Monday that Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Greg Urwin said Fiji's Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase had requested the meeting, which will be held on Friday.

Under a Forum declaration, member countries can intervene to help resolve unrest in another member state, but only at the request of the affected government.

Urwin said Qarase had asked for the meeting to be held as soon as possible and its purpose would be for the government of Fiji to advise regional ministers on the current situation in Fiji.

Fiji's military commander Frank Bainimarama has been in New Zealand visiting family and is expected to return to Fiji on Tuesday.

Tensions in Fiji have been high since Bainimarama threatened last month to remove Prime Minister Qarase from office.

Bainimarama ever backed down from those threats after Qarase met his demand to amend controversial legislation, removing amnesties for people convicted over Fiji's 2000 coup.
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He issued last week demands to the government and a two-week deadline to comply, and has recalled army reservists in readiness for what he described as a clean-up of the Qarase government.

A spokesperson for New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the foreign minister plans to attend the Pacific Forum meeting.

Peters said he held talks with the Commodore in Wellington over the weekend but neither has said what was discussed, said Radio New Zealand International.

(Xinhua News Agency November 27, 2006)