Tonga has requested Australia and New Zealand send police and
troops to help ensure calm in the capital Nuku'alofa following
violent pro-democracy riots, a Tongan government spokesman said on
Friday.
The request came after a meeting of Tonga's cabinet and as the
death toll from Thursday's riots reached eight.
Lopeti Senituli, a spokesman for Tonga's Prime Minister Fred
Sevele, told Reuters Tonga had asked Australia and New Zealand for
about 150 troops and police, and said they were due to arrive in
Tonga late Friday.
"They are to back up the civil defence services and the Tonga
police force," he said, adding about 20 troops from New Zealand
would be sent to secure Nuku'alofa's airport, while 40 specialist
police and 90 troops from Australia would also arrive on
Friday.
An Air Force Hercules has been put on standby in case it is needed.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters says the tragedy has the ability to destabilise the region.
A spokesman for Australia's Defence Minister Brendan Nelson said no decision had been made to send Australian forces to Tonga, although plans were in place if Tonga made a formal request for help.
There is a total lockdown in central Nuku'alofa.
High Commissioner Michael McBryde says it is hoped the rioting was a one-off mighty explosion of outrage, but it has destroyed up to 80% of Nuku'alofa's business district.
The violence broke out after thousands of Tongans rallied in the centre of the capital Nuku'alofa.
The demonstration degenerated into a riot, which saw drunken youths target shops and government buildings, resulting in millions of dollars worth of damage.
McBryde, says the atmosphere remains very tense and unpredictable in the capital.
He says Tonga has virtually no experience of such violence and the outbreak has caught everyone by surprise.
McBryde says the 300 to 400 New Zealanders living in Tonga are being contacted by the High Commission.
The local Tongan Methodist Church plans to call a meeting in response to riots in the capital.
Reverend Taufa-filiai from the Auckland-based Tongan Methodist Church says once people have got over the initial shock a meeting will be organised.
He says that meeting will decide what kind of response the church offers to the people of Tonga.
Air New Zealand remains too worried about the situation in Tonga to fly there.
The airline has not only cancelled Friday's flight to Tonga from Auckland, it has also cancelled Saturday and Sunday's as well.
It is not confident of the safety at Nuku'alofa airport for its passengers, air crew and plane.
The airline says it will make a decision on Sunday evening when to resume services.
Air New Zealand flies to Tonga five times a week from
Auckland.
