Papua New Guinea has accused Australia of causing it a political and diplomatic embarrassment over Canberra's attempt to arrest the Solomon Islands attorney general, Julian Moti.
PNG says Australia failed to provide a properly signed document seeking Mr Moti's arrest and extradition last week when he was detained after arriving on a flight from Singapore.
However, Canberra has contradicted PNG, saying it has followed the procedure to the letter.
Mr Moti, who is an Australian lawyer, is wanted in Australia for an alleged sex crime in Vanuatu in 1997 but Vanuatu police say the matter has been resolved.
On Friday, Mr Moti was taken to a PNG court but has not been seen since he was released on bail.
PNG now says he is free but Australia has cancelled his passport.
The Australian foreign minister says Mr Moti is in the Solomon Islands embassy in Port Moresby.
The Solomon Islands prime minister, Manasseh Sogavare, has labelled Australia's attitude to its neighbours as bullying.
Speaking in parliament this morning in relation to Mr Moti's situation, Mr Sogavare says Australia's bid to have Mr Moti extradited is political.
Mr Sogavare says Mr Moti has been travelling in and out of Australia since 1997 and was never arrested.
He says it is now when Mr Moti has been appointed Attorney General that they want him arrested.
The prime minister was responding to the opposition leader who called on the government to reconsider Mr Moti's appointment as he has a dubious character and put Solomon Islands internationally and regionally in disrepute.
