23 Dec 2008

Expulsion threat against NZ High Commissioner dropped

8:54 am on 23 December 2008

A threat to expel New Zealand's acting High Commissioner to Fiji has been dropped by the interim government.

Fiji previously said acting High Commissioner Caroline McDonald would be sent home unless the son of the president's secretary could return to New Zealand to finish his university studies.

A travel ban was imposed by New Zealand on Fiji officials and their families after a coup in December 2006.

Interim attorney general Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says it's not a backdown. but Fiji does not want the actions of one diplomat to affect relationships between the two countries.

He says Fiji also wants to appoint a three man committee to focus on fostering a better relationship with New Zealand.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully has not commented on the statement.

The coup, led by Commodore Frank Bainimarama, was the fourth since 1987. He has since appointed himself interim prime minister.