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New Zealand was not involved in alleged attempts to encourage senior members of Fiji's military to mutiny against their commander Commodore Frank Bainimarama, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has said.
Colonel Pita Driti, Fiji's land force commander, today said he had been approached by the high commissioners of Australia and Britain and a United States representative last year when Cdre Bainimara was in New Zealand.
The group said they did not like Cdre Bainimarama's approach and encouraged him to take over.
He said although New Zealand's high commissioner was not present he assumed New Zealand was involved in the approach.
But Mr Peters today ruled out New Zealand's involvement.
He had given no authorisation for any approach and Col Driti's assumption was wrong.
New Zealand's high commissioner was in Fiji at the time and was not involved, he said on Radio New Zealand.
Col Driti yesterday said he would close Australia and New Zealand's high commissions in Suva if he could.
"Maybe I should have this as a goal and I hope that they (New Zealand and Australia) are listening," the Fijilive website quoted Col Driti as saying.
Col Driti made his comments to Fiji soldiers preparing to leave for the United Nation (UN) Assistance Mission to Iraq on April 23.
In January, Prime Minister Helen Clark attacked the decision not to suspend Fiji from UN missions.
Both countries have also imposed sanctions on Fiji's interim military-appointed government, since the armed forces overthrew the elected government of Laisenia Qarase on December 5 last year.
Mr Peters's spokesman said the Fijian people would suffer if the high commissions were shut down.
He said All visa applications for Fijians wanting to travel to New Zealand were dealt with at the Suva office and aid and development schemes are run from it.
- NZPA
