Frank Bainimarama

Wellington, June 3 NZPA - Fiji's interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama has cancelled an invitation to Foreign Minister Murray McCully and other Pacific leaders to visit Fiji, following "negative" comments made in Auckland on Monday.

The Pacific Islands Forum's ministerial contact group (MCG), including Fiji's interim Foreign Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, met on Monday to discuss Fiji's political situation.

Cdre Bainimarama seized power in 2006 and has reneged on promises to restore the nation to democracy, despite continued pressure from its Pacific neighbours.

Following the MCG meeting Mr McCully said Fiji had presented a report which contained familiar shortcomings.

"The engagement of people in Fiji in the dialogue of reform does not include all of the stakeholders in Fiji, which is the reason we have been unable to make significant progress," he said.

Cdre Bainimarama told the Fijilive website after the meeting that Mr McCully and his Australian counterpart Steven Smith had announced to the world that the situation in Fiji had worsened, and questioned whether they had any "good intent".

He said today an invitation for the ministers and other MCG members to visit Fiji no longer stood because they were not serious about having proper dialogue. The group had planned to go to the capital Suva next month.

A spokesman from Mr McCully's office said today the invitation had been accepted, but was withdrawn before the forum secretary and MCG could make any further plans.

"It's entirely up to the commodore whether or not he wants to engage with the MCG, which is mandated by the forum, to try and find a way of improving the relationship."

The forum has expressed doubts as to whether the interim government will stick to a pledge to hold elections before 2014.