From The Trouble In Paradise Department:

AFP: Tonga counts cost of pro-democracy riots
NUKU'ALOFA - Tonga has taken tentative steps towards recovering from destructive riots, as its international airport reopened under armed military guard and the government warned of a firm stand against dissent.

The foreign forces also stepped up their presence as Prime Minister Feleti Sevele declared he will not step down and is determined to track down those responsible for last Thursday's rampage.

The New Zealand and Australian troops, called in by the Tongan government Saturday, have secured the airport to allow international flights to resume.

New Zealand announced it is sending a further 11 police to help deal with the fallout of the riots in which eight people died and 80 percent of the central business district was destroyed.

There are already 77 New Zealand soldiers and police in Tonga as part of a 150-strong joint force with Australia.

The commander of the joint force, Lieutenant Colonel Darren Beck, met with Tongan military leaders Monday to discuss whether the troops should have a wider role outside the airport.

"Our primary concern is the restoration of security in Nuku'alofa to enable repairs and reconciliation process to commence," Beck said after meeting Tonga's Chief of Defence, Brigadier Tauaika Utaatu.

"However any further tasking by the Combined Joint Task Force must be agreed upon by all governments concerned."

Sevele told reporters he is committed to rebuilding the country's battered economy and international reputation after most of the central business district was wiped out in an orgy of destruction by pro-democracy youths.

"I never thought that the day would come when I saw Tongans taking to the streets like that," he told Television New Zealand.

Free the people, Mr. Leader.

"It's a day of shame for us Tongans."

Although hundreds of foreigners sought refuge in embassies and hotels following Thursday's rampage, there was no evidence of a stampede to leave the country when the airport reopened.

"Everything is very normal. There is no rush of people and it is the normal weekly flight schedules," the operations manager at Fua'amotu airport, Kinitoni Mafi, told AFP.

In Nuku'alofa, electricity and telephone connections were being rapidly restored, but the business district continued to smoulder and there were food shortages after supermarkets were looted and destroyed.

Somehow, I don't thing kids trying to do the democracy thing would loot the non-union Tongan equivalent of the Food King...

The business community was left frustrated at not being given higher priority for attention and not being able to access the destroyed commercial centre.

The area was blocked off and guarded by heavily armed soldiers and police, with business owners unable to determine what if, any property, they could salvage.

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark has offered Tonga help in its constitutional reform process.

It was the pace of constitutional change that triggered the riots and forced the government to hurriedly announce changes to the way parliament is formed to give MPs elected by popular vote a majority say.

"New Zealand has people with expertise in Pacific constitutions and expertise in facilitation of dialogue, who we would be very happy to make available," Clark said.

Sevele told Clark his finance ministry was starting to assess the private sector's capacity to rebuild, and it was too early to say if aid would be sought.

"At this point it looks like a private sector issue," he said.

Cleaning up after totalitarian messes usually is, pal.

Clark rejected criticism by Tonga's pro-democracy movement of the foreign troops sent to Nuku'alofa.

"What I have offered to the Tongan prime minister directly and we've offered through officials is facilitation from experienced people in New Zealand if we can help in any way with taking the constitutional debate foward," she told National Radio in New Zealand.

"But the first thing you have to do is support some process of law and order and we do that without taking any sides whatsoever."