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New Zealand and Australia have stepped up their security presence in Tonga, with armed soldiers patrolling the streets amid warnings of a possible flare-up of last week's deadly riots.
China also sent a special plane to evacuate ethnic Chinese, who were a prime target in last week's rampage, as Thursday's closure of Tonga's parliament was identified as a potential flashpoint for more violence.
The 150 foreign military and police initially sent to Tonga were tasked with securing the airport, allowing international flights to resume on Monday, four days after pro-democracy youths burned and looted their way through the commercial centre.
About 80 percent of the tiny Pacific kingdom's business heart was wiped out in the rampage, eight people died and more than 100 people have since been arrested.
Damage is estimated at more than 100 million dollars.
New Zealand Defence Minister Phil Goff said Tongan security forces, who have been maintaining a state of emergency since the rampage, requested the foreign troops move away from the airport and carry out patrols in the inner city.
“At this stage we are looking at a relatively short-term deployment which will however depend on the situation remaining peaceful,” Goff said.
Australia on Wednesday despatched a further 27 police and warned there was a prospect of more violence.
“The close of the current session of parliament on 23 November 2006 could provide a trigger for further unrest,” the foreign affairs department said in a travel advisory.
China's foreign ministry sent a jet to Tonga to evacuate about 100 ethnic Chinese who had sought sanctuary in the Chinese embassy, Xinhua news agency said.
Tongan business leaders have said the protests were manipulated by business people trying to wipe out their competition, with ethnic Chinese a particular target.
With the foreign troops now taking a more visible role on the streets of Tonga, they have been accused by pro-democracy activists of helping the monarchy suppress the democratic process through martial law.
But the Australian troop commander, Major Jim Hammett, said the move away from the airport was at the request of overtaxed Tongan forces.
“Given that the Tongan Defence Service have been working for so long at such a hectic pace, they actually requested if we were available to provide them with manpower support,” he said.
“At the first sign of any resentment brewing or any unhappiness then of course we'll immediately review the situation.”
Goff said the foreign forces were there at the request of the Tongan government to protect people and property and not to become involved in the pro-democracy debate.
“We are not there either to maintain the political status quo or to dictate to Tongans details or the timetable of how they should implement reform,” he said.
“New Zealand has however consistently supported reform towards a democratic and accountable system of governance in Tonga.”
The commander of the joint New Zealand and Australian forces, Lieutenant Colonel Darren Beck, said the first priority was to maintain security at the airport, and then provide back-up to Tongan forces in and around Nuku'alofa.
Beck said that while he had no ongoing concerns about security, the forces would remain in Tonga until they were asked to leave by the Tongan government.
The ceremonial closing of parliament on Thursday will take place with a strong security presence.
New Zealand High Commissioner Michael McBryde said the ceremony would show people the institutions of government were operating.
“The king will make a speech, he always makes a speech at the closing of parliament, but this time the significance will be somewhat greater because the people will be listening for some guidance from their monarch.”
