19 Jun 2007

NZ govt to ask UN to consider using Fiji soldiers as peace keepers

7:16 am on 19 June 2007

The New Zealand government is to again ask the United Nations to consider its use of Fiji soldiers as peace keepers.

New Zealand and the Commonwealth raised this issue with the UN just after the December coup, but was told the Fiji troops were needed.

But in the wake of the expulsion of New Zealand's top diplomat from Fiji, the New Zealand Prime Minister, Helen Clark, they are going to go back to the UN over the matter.

"Pointing out the great irony of Fiji personnel being deployed to troubled countries in an endeavour to bring peace and security when their own is exactly such a country which is troubled and doesn't enjoy peace and security at this time."