2 Jul 2008

Fiji complains over European Union mission on rule of law meetings

9:20 am on 2 July 2008

Fiji's interim Attorney-General says he wants the list of people meeting a European Union mission on the rule of law in Fiji to be expanded.

The mission is in Fiji and will meet people referred to them by certain heads of foreign missions.

But Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum claims the current list lacked balance as most of them were either litigants or representatives of litigants of cases against the state.

He accused certain heads of mission apparently close to the individuals identified, of influencing the list.

"In our experience, it has been seen over the past one year or so that some of the heads of missions have shown a particular proclivity, are lot more closer to those individuals in society in terms of having their ear so we hope that that does not influence the range of person the mission is going to meet."

The mission begins its two weeks of meetings today with Mr Sayed-Khaiyum.