Fiji/Australia/New Zealand

Fiji coup chief expels Australian, NZ envoys

Article published on the 2009-11-03 Latest update 2009-11-03 17:10 TU

Fijian soldiers guard the Prime Minister's office
(Photo : AFP)

Fiji's military leader and self-appointed Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama on Tuesday expelled the Australian and New Zealand envoys, accusing them of interfering in the country's judiciary. He also accused the envoys of meddling in the travel arrangements of judges from Sri Lanka. Bainimarama is bringing the judges from Sri Lanka after sacking the judiciary this year. The judges would need to travel via either Australia or New Zealand.

"I have told the minister of foreign affairs to issue communications to the Australian and New Zealand governments that their respective heads of missions are to be recalled within 24 hours," Bainimarama said in a televised speech.

"I have also informed them our high commissioner in Australia is to be recalled with immediate effect."

Fiji, which has suffered four coups and a bloody military mutiny since 1987, was plunged into a fresh crisis in April after the president reappointed coup leader Bainimarama as prime minister, less than two days after a court ruled the military leader's 2006 coup and subsequent government was illegal.

Australia and New Zealand, two of Fiji's major aid donors and trading partners, have been critical of Bainimarama and have called on him to hold fresh elections as soon as possible.

This will be the third time New Zealand's top envoy to Fiji has been expelled since the 2006 coup.

Fiji was suspended from the 16-nation Pacific Islands Forum in May and from the Commonwealth in September.