PM cancels Australia visit

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 28. The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, has postponed his visits to Australia and Singapore as the proposed Commonwealth Heads of Governmental Meeting (CHOGM) has been cancelled, for now, on account of the changed situation in the context of the September 11 terrorists attacks in New York and Washington. Mr. Vajpayee's journey was to begin on October 2, and he was to attend the CHOGM, in Brisbane from October 6 to October 9.

The decision to postpone the CHOGM was taken by the Commonwealth Secretary-General in London, after consultation with senior Prime Ministers, including Mr. Vajpayee.

The British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, had already indicated his inability to travel to Brisbane, and it was unlikely that the Queen would have been able to open the conference.

No new dates, either for the CHOGM or for the bilateral visits have been announced.

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Section  : National
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