The Pacific Island Forum Leaders Meeting in PNG has been deferred.

PNG Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare has said the meeting will still take place at a later date with the personal attendance of Interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama.

Somare said they have rescheduled the meeting to February 10th.

He adds contrary to what many commentators were saying, the Forum leaders were not coming to Port Moresby with the pre-conceived notion to suspend Fiji from the regional grouping.

Somare said he is under no illusion that the meeting will be an easy one for them adding this will test the resolve of the Forum leaders in addressing what is already a very delicate situation in Fiji.

He hopes they will come to decisions that will help Fiji move forward in an orderly way towards democracy.

Sir Michael commended Commodore Bainimarama for seeing through this difficult period in Fiji to indicate his willingness to attend this meeting. Fijivillage, 23/01/09.