18 Jun 2007

Fiji interim PM says Australia and New Zealand don't understand Fiji's situation

10:26 am on 18 June 2007

Fiji's interim prime minister says New Zealand and Australian politicians not only do not understand the situation in Fiji, but they do not want to understand it.

Commodore Bainimarama says Helen Clark, Winston Peters and Alexander Downer must understand that the interim administration is now governing the country with the mandate of the president.

He says the international community should get on board and help Fiji go back to parliamentary democracy.

Commodore Bainimarama says if the international community is not in a position to help, it should remain neutral so Fiji can find its own way.

He says the New Zealand high commissioner, Michael Green, is being expelled to maintain Fiji's sovereignty.

Commodore Bainimarama says Fiji had never interfered with the sovereignty of the international community and asks that they not interfere with Fiji.

The New Zealand government says it is reviewing the totality of its relations with Fiji, with the foreign minister, Winston Peters saying Fiji's military regime would pay a price for Mr Green's expulsion.