Wellington, April 15 - Further media sanctions and a significant currency devaluation were imposed by Fiji today as the nation continued to isolate itself from the international community.

The political situation remained unsteady as interim prime minister Frank Bainimarama continued his self-styled reforms and affirmed his stance against being forced into holding elections any time soon.

After expelling Australian and New Zealand journalists this week, Fiji today shut down Radio Australia's transmitters on the island, the broadcaster said today.

Technicians were ordered to switch off two FM relay stations carrying the international channel of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), which provides detailed coverage of South Pacific nations.

The Fiji dollar has been devalued by 20 percent, Reserve Bank governor Sada Reddy announced soon after being installed by the military-led government.

The bank said the devaluation would boost tourism and exports in Fiji, AFP reported.

The New Zealand Law Society took the step today of advising its lawyers not to accept work for the Fiji regime.

New Zealand lawyers "should not accept appointment to any office under the regime", society president John Marshall QC said.

NZPA was unable to contact New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully for comment tonight, but the Pacific Islands Forum chairman spoke out against the military regime, accusing it of having "wanton disregard" for the rule of law.

Fiji's Court of Appeal ruled last Thursday that Cdre Bainimarama's regime was illegal under the country's 1997 constitution.

In response, 88-year-old president Ratu Josefa Iloilo sacked the judges, dissolved the constitution, ruled out any election for five years and briefly removed Cdre Bainimarama, before re-appointing him as prime minister.

A special Pacific Islands Forum summit has committed to suspending Fiji from the group unless it declares an election date by May 1.

Forum chairman and Niue Premier Toke Talagi said the hopes and aspirations of many in Fiji and the wider Pacific had been raised briefly by the Court of Appeal decision, only to be dashed by the "unilateral and irresponsible" actions of Mr Iloilo and Cdre Bainimarama.

They had "hijacked" the constitution, leaving Fiji posing a threat to Pacific stability, Mr Talagi said.

Cdre Bainimarama, who seized power in a coup in 2006, said he would not tolerate opposition to his electoral shakeup and insisted he had broad support among the nation's population.

He has maintained his actions are for the benefit of the country and that Fiji's future will be decided by Fijians -- not New Zealand or Australia.

NZPA PAR co dw