Wellington  - Fiji's military rulers expelled New Zealand's senior diplomat in the capital Suva on Tuesday, bringing a simmering row between the two countries to a head, Television New Zealand reported.

Acting High Commissioner Caroline McDonald was called into the office of strongman Commodore Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama and told she was persona non grata.

The surprise move followed reports that Bainimarama had backed down on an earlier threat to throw McDonald out unless Wellington issued a visa allowing the son of the president's secretary to return to New Zealand to finish his university studies.

New Zealand imposed a travel ban on Fiji officials and their families after Bainimarama ousted the elected government in a bloodless coup in December 2006.

The government told Bainimarama, who declared himself prime minister after the coup, in an exchange of letters last week, that it would not make any exceptions to the travel ban.

Fiji's Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum told Radio New Zealand earlier on Tuesday that Fiji did not want the actions of one diplomat to affect relations between the two countries.

He accused New Zealand and Australia of bullying Fiji and neo- colonialism, but announced that a committee would be set up to focus on fostering a better relationship with those countries. (dpa)