Australian Prime Minister John Howard and Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon are due to meet on Wednesday for talks likely to be dominated by Zimbabwe, officials said.
Zimbabwe was suspended from the councils of the Commonwealth after international observers ruled that its elections held a year ago, and which returned President Robert Mugabe to power, were seriously flawed.
The Australian leader chairs a tri-nation Commonwealth committee which decided to maintain the suspension despite pressure from the two other nations until the next Commonwealth leaders’ meeting.
Nigeria and South Africa had pushed for Zimbabwe’s readmission to the Commonwealth but Howard stood firm, achieving the extension until December.
Howard announced the decision after talks in London with McKinnon in February.
McKinnon said in February the Commonwealth had survived much worse and the current crisis over Zimbabwe’s status did not mean the end of the 54-nation body or of Zimbabwe’s long-term membership. – Sapa-AFP