Australia, New Zealand oust Fiji diplomats

SUVA, Fiji, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- A Fijian-born Australian academic has become the latest casualty of an ongoing diplomatic dispute involving Fiji's ouster from the Commonwealth, observers say.

Professor Brij Lal says Fiji's military ruler ordered him to leave within 24 hours after he told an Australian broadcaster he doubted a promised 2014 election would take place, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported Wednesday.

Fiji was expelled from the Commonwealth last month for failing to hold a democratic election.

On Tuesday, Fiji expelled Australia and New Zealand's high commissioners. Australia and New Zealand retaliated by ordering Fijian diplomats out of their countries.

Lal, a leading academic on Fiji's political history, has been living in Fiji the past three months.

The country's military ruler, Frank Bainimarama, charges both Australia and New Zealand have been trying to undermine Fiji's judiciary and weaken its economy.