United States Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice has agreed to a request from Tongan Prime Minister Fred Sevele to establish a consular office in the island kingdom.

Tongan Broadcasting Corporation reports that Dr Rice told Dr Sevele of the decision at bilateral meetings in Washington this week.

After the September 11 terror attacks, Tongans wanting to travel to the US on non-immigrant visas had to go to Fiji to personally lodge visa applications at the US embassy in Suva.

Media reports say a US consulate should open in the Tongan capital Nuku'alofa by the end of the year.

tonga, united states

Produced by Radio Australia and Australia Network