9 May 2012

Vanuatu's Nagriamel sharpens anti-Australian rhetoric

2:55 pm on 9 May 2012

Vanuatu's Nagriamel custom movement has called on the government to expel all Australian police advisors and close the Australian high commission over the controversy surrounding a prime ministerial advisor, Clement Marae.

He was arrested for an alleged international tax scam in Sydney in transit to Israel where he was bound to travel with the prime minister, Sato Kilman.

The prime minister likened the arrest to a kidnapping and a breach of protocol.

Jeff Patunvanu of the Nagriamel movement says Australia's refuses to acknowledge any wrongdoing.

"The minister of foreign affairs has given them 48 hours to apologise. Now that there hasn't been any apology from the Australian government, the government should take a decision and ask the Australian embassy, close the embassy and all the AFP should leave this country."