South Africa, hosting the summit of the 54-strong organisation in Durban, announced earlier that Pakistan would not be allowed to attend. Aid from the Commonwealth's fund for technical cooperation was also suspended, following the suspension of bilateral British aid last week. Ministers called on the military regime to announce immediately a time frame for the restoration of democracy and agreed to send a mission to Islamabad consisting of ministers from Canada, Barbados, Ghana and Malaysia. It will be chaired by Lloyd Axworthy of Canada, and is expected to leave by the end of the month, diplomats said. If no progress is made, heads of state will agree on formal suspension before they meet in Durban.
Expulsion is unlikely.
Commonwealth diplomats said they were pleased with the speedy and united response to the crisis, but it is not clear what pressure the organisation can bring to bear on its second-largest member. Pakistan denounced the move as unfair and accused the Commonwealth of bias in favour of India. He said the people of Pakistan had given full backing to the military regime of General Parvaiz Musharraf, who on Sunday pledged an eventual return to civilian rule, but gave no timetable. Nigeria was suspended in 1995 after the hanging of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni minority rights activists. It was readmitted this year after the election of a civilian government.