Irwin quits job as chief of Pacific Islands Forum

06/05/2008 22:56:46

The secretary general of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Greg Urwin has resigned.

The Pacific news wire service reports Mr Urwin tendered his letter of resignation to the current chairman of the forum, Tonga's prime minister Dr Fred Seveli, yesterday.

It is understood Mr Urwin, who is in his second term as secretary general, has been in ill health in recent months.

Forum secretariat officials in Fiji's capital Suva refused to comment on the reported resignation but said Dr Sevele was expected to make an announcement.

Mr Urwin has been secretary general since early 2004 and his second three-year term was due to expire in early 2010.

His appointment was a break with tradition because the job had previously always gone to an official from one of the 14 Pacific Island countries in the forum, which also groups Australia and New Zealand.

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