Fiji places travel ban on Australia, N.Z. prime ministers

SYDNEY, Jan. 2 Kyodo

Fiji has imposed a travel ban on the prime ministers of Australia and New Zealand, Fiji TV reported.

The television station said Thursday evening that the names of Australian Prime Minister John Howard and New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark have been included on a watch-list maintained by Fiji's Immigration Department.

Australia has already imposed travel bans on Fiji's leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama, his supporters and members of his government since the December coup in which the military led by Bainimarama took control of the country from the elected government of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase.

Australia and New Zealand condemned the coup.

More than 100 names are on the Fiji watch-list, mainly trade unionists, civil society activists, politicians and businessmen, Fiji TV said.

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