New Zealand and Australian troops to leave Tonga

WELLINGTON, Nov 30 (Reuters) New Zealand and Australia will withdraw their troops from Tonga this week following a return to calm after violent pro-democracy riots in the island kingdom, officials said today.

Foreign police will however remain in the capital Nuku'alofa, mainly to help investigation into the riots that erupted on November 16, killing six people and destroying 80 percent of businesses.

''Should any further disturbance arise, and this is not anticipated, Tongan authorities are confident that they can handle the situation,'' New Zealand Foreign Minister Phil Goff said in a statement after talks with Australian and Tongan authorities.

New Zealand and Australia sent about 150 troops and police to help maintain order after the riots, sparked when parliament went into recess without voting on democratic reforms.

Last Thursday Tonga's King George Tupou V assured his people he was committed to political reforms.

Tonga is a group of 170 coral and volcanic islands about 2,000 km north of New Zealand, with a population of about 100,000 people. A semi-feudal kingdom, the king appoints most of the parliamentary representatives and controls the key assets.

Australian Defence Minister Brendan Nelson said about 50 Australian defence personnel sent to Tonga would return as local security forces were now in control.

Goff said New Zealand troops had been working in a low key manner, providing support to Tongan police and military.

Police from the two countries would stay on in Tonga to assist in investigations and forensic work in the aftermath of the riots, he said.

REUTERS PA KP0857