Leader of Fiji Coup bans visits by Australia, New Zealand PMs

-- One News

Prime Minister Helen Clark and her Australian counterpart John Howard have been banned from entering Fiji by the country's military regime on Friday.

The move against the two vocal critics of coup leader Frank Bainimarama, follows decisions in Wellington and Canberra to ban the military leader and his supporters from their countries.

Australia and New Zealand have also imposed sanctions on the military regime after it overthrew the elected government on December 5.

Fiji TV reports Clark and Howard's names appear on a Fiji Immigration Department list that bans some people from entering and others from leaving.

Bainimarama's ban on Clark and Howard has been met with derision.

The self-imposed Fijian leader says if he is not allowed to travel to their countries, they are not allowed to travel to his.

Despite Clark and Howard's ban, the Fijian team has been welcomed at Wellington's rugby Sevens.

The tournament kicked off at lunchtime on Friday to the delight of fans.

Around 35,000 people will show up at Wellington's stadium for the tournament, half of them will be from out of town, to watch the 16 international teams take part.