A controversial proposal for the commonwealth to appoint a democracy commissioner to monitor member nations has become the subject of heated debate among foreign ministers meeting in Perth.
The ministers are meeting in the lead-up to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting on Friday.
A commonwealth Eminent Persons Group came up with the idea of a commissioner, with the proposal to go to the leaders' meeting in coming days.
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Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd says the blunt instrument of suspension or expulsion from the commonwealth following military coups is not enough, and more pre-emptive diplomacy is needed.
