Australia's Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Affairs, Richard Marles, said Melanesian leaders are still concerned about Fiji's slow progress towards democracy.

Although the leaders of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands had earlier said in the Friends of Fiji meeting that they would let Fiji pave it's own path towards democracy and would not interfere if Fiji's domestic affairs, it has now been revealed that a special meeting of the Melanesian Spearhead Group was mapped out while leaders were in New York for the UN General Assembly last month.

Radio NZ said although not formally confirmed, the special MSG meet is due to be held in Solomon Islands next week and sources say it will involve a reconciliation ceremony and handing the chairmanship to Fiji will be discussed.

However Australia's Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Affairs, Richard Marles, who has just visited the Solomons and Papua New Guinea, said leaders in the region continue to support the Pacific Island Forum's position in Fiji.