UN bans Fiji troops

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The United Nations has just announced it will no longer hire Fiji troops for its peacekeeping operations, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says.

New Zealand has been pushing for the UN to ban Fijians since Voreqe Bainimarama's 2006 coup.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation said Rudd made the announcement ahead of talks with Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare.

Rudd says the UN's move means important remittances to Fijian military families will now be cut off.

"Through our own interventions with the United Nations and supported by New Zealand and other countries, the United Nations is now not going to engage future or new Fijian troops for new operations," he said.

The Pacific Islands Forum is set to expel Fiji on Friday and the Commonwealth is considering action.

- © Fairfax NZ News