Fiji chief kicks out diplomats

FIJI'S military ruler is expelling top diplomats from Australia and New Zealand as a row over Fiji's new Sri Lankan ex-pat judges escalates.

Commodore Frank Bainimarama, who seized power in a 2006 coup, has given the diplomats 24 hours to leave.

Australia and New Zealand told the judges this week that if they take up the posts they would be subject to travel bans the two countries have placed on all senior officials in the Fijian coup's regime.