Fiji leader expels NZ's top diplomat in row over bans

Frank Bainimarama is believed to have ordered the expulsion of NZ and Australian diplomats from Fiji. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand's top diplomat in Fiji, Todd Cleaver, is about to be expelled by Fiji in the third such expulsion since military commander Frank Bainimarama took over the country in 2006.

The Australian High Commissioner was also given notice yesterday by Fiji's secretary of Foreign Affairs that its envoy and Mr Cleaver would be declared persona non grata today.

The expulsion is thought to have been ordered by Commander Bainimarama.

It is linked to the decision by Australia and New Zealand to add recently appointed judges from Sri Lanka to the list of people facing travel bans to the countries.

New Zealand made an exception recently for one of the judges who brought her daughter to New Zealand for an operation at Starship hospital in Auckland.

Former New Zealand High Commissioner Mike Green was expelled in June 2007. The Fiji Government alleged he had been interfering in domestic affairs.

Acting High Commissioner Caroline McDonald was expelled last December.

Mr Cleaver is New Zealand's most senior diplomat in Fiji.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully said what had happened yesterday would put serious pressure on the operation of the post.