Wellington, Feb 24 NZPA - Fiji coup leader Commodore Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama is threatening to pull out of the Commonwealth, which he says continues to meddle in attempts to move Fiji forward.

"The Commonwealth has not tried to understand or listen to Fiji's aspirations, but have been posing the same questions over and over again about the return to democracy," he told the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation today.

The Commonwealth had not tried to understand or listen to Fiji's aspirations, but has been posing the same questions over and over again about the return to democracy, he said.

"I have clearly stated over and over again, what needs to be done, and when Fiji will return to democracy and this will be done with or without the support of Australia, New Zealand or the Commonwealth," he said.

The Commonwealth suspended Fiji's membership after it refused to hold elections by this year.

Cdre Bainimarama, who is also Fiji's Prime Minister and military commander, took control of the country in a 2006 coup.

He said removing sanctions against the Fiji government was the main item on the agenda when Fiji's Foreign Minister Inoke Kubuabola met NZ Foreign Minister Murray McCully in Nadi last week. Sanctions such as constraints on travel to NZ by people connected to the coup administration have been in place since December 2006.

Other issues such as agreement on the return of Australian and New Zealand High Commissioners to Fiji and the appointment of Fiji High Commissioners to Wellington and Canberra were minor issues, as the removal of sanctions was Fiji's priority, he said.

Although talks were continuing at a ministerial level he did not expect the High Commissioner appointments any time soon.

Mr McCully said this week favourable consideration was being given to Fiji establishing an honorary consul in Auckland, and that Wellington expected to be able to replace its trade commissioner in Suva. Both governments accepted the appointment of first secretaries at their high commissions in Wellington and Suva.

Mr McCully is expected to meet Cdre Bainimarama during next month's Hong Kong rugby sevens tournament.