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Fiji 'expels N Zealand diplomat' Fiji expels New Zealand diplomat
(about 6 hours later)
New Zealand has said that its top diplomat in Fiji has been expelled. Fiji's post-coup leadership has expelled New Zealand's top diplomat, accusing him of interfering in the country's domestic affairs.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the government deplored the move and that there would be "consequences" for Fiji. The interim government said "provisions remain open" for New Zealand to replace Michael Green as high commissioner.
Mr Peters said Fiji had given no explanation for the expulsion of High Commissioner Mike Green. But Wellington reacted with fury at the expulsion, and warned Fiji that there would be repercussions.
Along with other nations, New Zealand has imposed sanctions and been highly critical of the December 2006 coup led by Frank Bainimarama. New Zealand was one of dozens of nations to strongly criticise last December's bloodless coup in Fiji.
Amnesty It imposed sanctions following military leader Cmdr Frank Bainimarama's move to topple elected Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and his government.
Mr Peters said: "The New Zealand Government deplores this action. We are not aware of any activities [Mr Green] has undertaken that justify Fiji's actions." Media reports suggested Mr Green, who had been high commissioner in Fiji since December 2004, had upset the government by meeting members of the deposed government.
He said the expulsion was one step below breaking off diplomatic relations. Diplomatic backlash
Mr Peters added: "There will undoubtedly be consequences for Fiji, as this action will be viewed very seriously not only by us, but by Fiji's other international partners including Pacific Island nations, Australia, the United States and the European Union." "The practice of quiet diplomacy was foremost given all the chances to prevail by Fiji authorities in our efforts to seek understanding and co-operation of... Mr Green to stop interfering in Fiji's domestic affairs, " the Fijian government statement said.
Media reports in New Zealand suggested Fiji's government was unhappy at meetings between Mr Green and members of the deposed government of Laisenia Qarase. It also went on to say that Fiji's own diplomat in Wellington had "continuously been snubbed" by the New Zealand authorities, "and the attitude of his counterpart in Fiji has done little to help the situation".
Mr Green is expected to leave in "a very short time", Mr Peters said. Cmdr Bainimarama has been sensitive to foreign criticism of the coup
Cmdr Bainimarama seized control of Fiji in a bloodless coup on 5 December 2006. The statement ended by saying Fiji considered this a "purely bilateral matter", and should not have any implications for its relations with other countries.
He accused Mr Qarase of corruption, and was angered by his plan to offer an amnesty to those responsible for a 2000 coup which he had helped put down. New Zealand said it would now be assessing what next steps to take. It has already suspended military ties with Fiji and imposed travel bans on the new leadership since the coup in December.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters told the BBC that New Zealand was "looking at every aspect of our bilateral relations" and may impose measures as early as next week.
He said the action could involve issuing new travel advisories or putting a freeze on New Zealand bank accounts held by Fiji's leadership.
But he insisted aid would not be affected. "We regard the Fijian people as innocent in this matter. We would not want to act in a way that would seem to be a mirror image of the country we are dealing with, in terms of the government."
Cmdr Bainimarama said he had no choice in carrying out the coup on 5 December 2006 because Mr Qarase's government was corrupt.
He was also angered by a government plan to offer amnesties to those involved in a 2000 coup that he had helped put down.
But he has come under huge pressure from overseas since the coup, and lifted a state of emergency in the country at the end of last month.