Fiji's interim government announced on Monday that New Zealand's acting high commissioner to Fiji, Caroline McDonald, would not be expelled "at this stage", New Zealand media reported.

New Zealand Television reported that Fiji's Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum made the announcement in a statement, but he accused New Zealand and Australian high commission staff of spying on Fiji and using bullying tactics.

The report said the attorney-general said the Fiji government would be setting up a team within the next few days "to try and work with New Zealand to foster better relations".

Sayed-Khaiyum also criticized New Zealand not to treat his country with dignity and respect.

He said this lack of diplomacy would not be tolerated in any other country, including in Fiji.

So far, New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully did not make a comment.

Fiji has been threatening to expel high commissioner Caroline McDonald over New Zealand's continued travel ban on members of the Fiji military, government and their families.

Fiji's interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama told the New Zealand government last week that McDonald would be ordered to leave the country unless a study visa was granted to George Nacewa, the son of a senior official in Suva.

Bainimarama was told last Tuesday by the New Zealand government that the visa would not be issued, and since then the government has been waiting for his reaction.

(Xinhua News Agency December 22, 2008)