Passengers queue to leave Tonga

People have started queuing at Tonga's International Airport after flights leaving the riot-torn country resumed today, it has been reported.

The airport has been closed for four days to commercial airlines following rioting in the capital Nuku'alofa which left eight people dead.

The airport reopened today, news agency Australian Associated Press reported, with the help of New Zealand and Australian soldiers. Flights to and from Sydney, Auckland and Samoa have gone ahead uninterrupted.

The security of capital Nuku'alofa's airport was one of the first roles for the Combined Joint Task Force of New Zealand and Australian personnel, when they arrived on Saturday night.

Force commander Lieutenant Colonel Darren Beck said he was pleased at how the operation went.

"The situation was calm and we were able to get off the plane and send troops out to the perimeter of the airfield while unloading the plane.

Lt Col Beck said the focus remained on the airport and to ensure commercial operations continued unhindered in the short-term.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen said today that New Zealand soldiers were not sent to Tonga for any fixed time period but would not have a "long-term role" there.