Wellington, Nov 10 NZPA - Fiji's Chief Justice, Anthony Gates, is reported to have all but urged Fiji's military ruler to take action against New Zealand and Australia diplomats over alleged travel bans on the coup administration's judiciary.

Mr Gates, who said at a press conference that Fiji must have a judiciary "and it is not for Australia and New Zealand to tell us we cannot have one or to tell us who we are to appoint", was particularly critical of Australian warnings to Sri Lankan judges recruited by Fiji.

The Australian newspaper has published a memorandum sent by Justice Gates to coup leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama.

In it, he described the Australian response to the question of visas for the judges as "damage control" and he pressed for action from Cdre Bainimarama.

"I have already said the judiciary cannot expect help from any quarter, that is the nature of our independent role. However, from a political point of view, can the executive allow such interference to continue?" said the judge, who is also an Australian citizen.

The next day, the Fijian government ordered out New Zealand Deputy High Commissioner Todd Cleaver and Australian High Commissioner James Bartley.

Mr Cleaver said later his family had been traumatised by the 24 hours they had been given to get out of Fiji by Cdre Bainimarama, because of claimed interference with Fiji's judiciary and for a delay in processing a visa application for the sick child of Fijian judge Anjala (crct) Wati.

New Zealand has travel bans on high-ranking members of the Fiji administration because Cdre Bainimarama has refused to hold democratic elections.