Pacific

Fiji leader reassured about US ambassador's Washington talks

17:14 pm on 14 December 2010

The Fiji interim prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, says it is reassuring that the US ambassador Steve McGann is briefing Washington on issues raised by the Fiji government.

In a government statement, Commodore Bainimarama says this puts positive light on diplomatic relations between the two countries.

This comes a day after Commodore Bainamarama questioned whether Mr McGann or the US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, was lying by saying the US was committed to re-engaging with Fiji.

Last week, Fiji reported that the US hadn't granted visas to Fiji top officials, which Fiji says it will take up with the United Nations.

The visa issue prompted Commodore Bainimarama to tell the Fiji Sun newspaper that foreign affairs officials had summoned Mr McGann last weekend to express Fiji's concern.

Hours after he made the claim to the newspaper, the US embassy issued a statement to say Mr McGann had already been out of Fiji for more than a week.

Commodore Bainimarama has also said he is open to suggestions from the public on what they think should be done with Mr McGann.