Samoa's Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, is accusing Fiji's interim regime of disinformation over the "Engaging Fiji" meeting.
Samoa did not send a representative to the meeting, attended by 10 other Pacific nations, which was called after the cancellation of the Melanesian Spearhead Group summit was cancelled.
In a statement, Tuilaepa says the accusation that Samoa did not attend because it is influenced by New Zealand is yet another of the military regime's menu of disinformation techniques designed to deflect attention from the situation the regime is putting Fiji and its people through.
The Prime Minister says he felt that Commodore Bainimarama's invitation was awkward for the Pacific leadership but as often happens, Pacific politeness and cultural associations take precedence even when there are fundamental
differences in viewpoints.