Bainimarama hailed as Clark snubbed

Prime Minister Helen Clark would have been given a reminder this morning - had she been there to witness it - that condemnation of Fijian coup leader Voreqe Bainimarama is not as universal in the Pacific as the apparent unity among the leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum suggests.

His arrival at the official opening - which was all pomp and circumstance, including the King's famous London black cab and a host of schoolgirl dancers drenched for hours in a steady downpour - was met with cheers and loud clapping from the crowd.

By contrast - and it was probably an oversight - Helen Clark's arrival went unapplauded and she was the only leader who was not announced.

She later told reporters she had been unaware of the failure to announce her arrival, and had not witnessed Commodore Bainimarama's entrance "because N (New Zealand) comes after F (Fiji)".

Ahead of the first plenary session this afternoon, she said all the leaders present wanted a clear commitment to holding elections in Fiji within the time frame that has been given - by March 2009.

"That's what everyone is saying."

She said it was realistic timetable, though not - if as being hinted by Fiji - the constituion was changed first.

Earlier, outgoing forum chairman Sir Michael Somare ruled out punitive action against Fiji as not in the spirit of the forum, but said a way forward was needed in the interests of Fijians.

Miss Clark reiterated there would be no bilateral meetings with the Fiji leader, though the two sat four seats apart on the stage at the official welcome and will likely be thrown together again this afternoon.

The first possible meeting, at a dinner hosted by Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon yesterday, fizzled when neither attended.

However she continued to snipe at Mr McKinnon for inviting the Fiji leader to the dinner in the first place.

"If a country is suspended from the councils of the commonwealth surely that includes a dinner," she said.

However she welcomed talks, set down for this afternoon, between Mr McKinnon and Commodore Bainimarama to discuss how Fiji was meeting the standards set by the Commonwealth.