SYDNEY, May 16 (UPI) -- The Fijian military has been accused by Australian authorities of making "credible" death threats against High Commissioner James Batley, officials say.
A spokesman for Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said this week that the Fijian military allegedly made the two threats after the Australian government headed up an international call for free elections in Fiji, The Sydney Morning Herald said in its Saturday edition.
"It appears someone unhappy with Australian policy in Fiji has made the threats," the unidentified department official said.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Stephen Smith said the threats, which the Fijian military has denied being involved with, wouldn't have their intended effect.
"If these threats are an effort to intimidate the Australian government about its policy on Fiji or an attempt to intimidate our high commissioner, let me make it very clear, they won't have any such effect," he said.
The Herald said one of the threats was delivered by taxi last week, while the other was delivered by mail this week.
