Wellington  - Fiji's military rulers have backed off from a threat to expel New Zealand's senior diplomat in the capital Suva for talking to opposition politicians, according to news reports on Tuesday.

Fiji strongman Commodore Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama had earlier threatened to throw out acting High Commissioner Caroline McDonald unless Wellington issued a visa allowing the son of the president's secretary to return to New Zealand to finish his university studies.

New Zealand imposed a travel ban on Fiji officials and their families after Bainimarama ousted the elected government in a bloodless coup in December 2006. The government told Bainimarama in an exchange of letters last week that it would not make any exceptions.

Fiji's Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum denied backing down, but told Radio New Zealand Fiji did not want the actions of one diplomat affect relations between the two countries.

He accused New Zealand and Australia of bullying Fiji and neo- colonialism, but announced that a committee would be set up to focus on fostering a better relationship with those countries. (dpa)