KEY POINTS:
PARIS - France said on Thursday it was suspending military ties with Fiji and would no longer issue visas to Fijian officials after the overthrow of the island nation's government in a bloodless coup.
Earlier this month, military chief Frank Bainimarama toppled democratically elected Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, claiming his government was corrupt and soft on those behind a May 2000 coup and the mutiny linked to it six months later.
The French territory of New Caledonia lies between Fiji and Australia.
"No visas will be issued to members of the military or civilian officials involved in the coup d'etat," French Foreign Ministry Spokesman Jean-Baptiste Mattei said in a statement, listing the measures France was taking.
Visits by Fijian military officials on French soil were suspended, as were encounters and exercises with its military.
"All military aircraft and vessel stopovers, in Fiji as well as on French territory, are suspended. However, fishery monitoring activities by naval and military means, which benefit the entire region, are maintained," the statement said.
Cooperation with Fijian authorities, including the training of senior officials, was also frozen. However, regional projects such as public health work and humanitarian aid programmes would continue as they benefit the population directly, it said.
- REUTERS
