Sick King manages to speak to his PM

The King of Tonga's health has taken a turn for the better but the country's Prime Minister says the outlook for the monarch remains serious.

King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, 88, has spent the past fortnight in Mercy Hospital in Auckland.

This week his condition deteriorated to the point that Tongans were asked to start praying for him.

Prime Minister Fred Sevele interrupted television and radio broadcasts late on Tuesday night to warn Tongans of the King's poor health and ask them to pray for him.

Dr Sevele travelled to Auckland to visit the King on Thursday but the monarch was not well enough to see him until yesterday morning.

The PM said the King was much better but his condition was up and down and changed daily.

Dr Sevele said it was difficult at the start but the King had been able to talk to him. He would not say what was said.

Dr Sevele, who is due to return to Tonga today, said he felt on Tuesday he had to let his fellow Tongans know that the situation was not hopeful, based on the advice he had been given by the King's physician.

Despite the improvement, the outlook was still serious.

"He could live a few more days or weeks, or he could go tomorrow."

The King's exact medical status has not been made public but he is known to have had long-standing heart problems and other age-related complications.

Dr Sevele said the King's wife, daughter and youngest son, who had been at his bedside this week, were bearing up well.

The heir, Crown Prince Tupouto'a, remained in Tonga where he was acting as Prince Regent.

Dr Sevele clarified that although the coronation of the new monarch could be some time after the King's death, the succession was immediate.

"It's as they say, the King is Dead, Long Live the King."

He credited King Tupou and Prince Tupouto'a for collaborating on changes towards a more democratic style of governance in Tonga.

"I am a living example of the changes taking place."

Dr Sevele was appointed Prime Minister by the King this year, the first commoner to hold the position.

He did not expect increased unrest with the death of King Tupou but said "elements" would undoubtedly want to accelerate the pace of change.

The country had settled down since last year's lengthy public service strike, he said.

Asked if Tongans would grow to love and respect their new monarch as much as they loved King Tupou, Dr Sevele paused, then said: "The monarchy has always been loved and respected. I don't see that changing."

Dr Sevele said he would discuss with members of the Pacific Forum next week the implications of the King's passing if it should come close to the time of the scheduled October 23-26 annual meeting.

Lopeti Senituli, political adviser to Dr Sevele, said from Tonga yesterday there was a sense of exhilaration that the King's health had improved but it was tempered with the knowledge of the inevitability of his passing.

Activity in smartening up the royal palace and grounds has increased and students have been sweeping the royal tombs' compound in Nuku'alofa.