The president of Kiribati, Anote Tong, has warned the newspaper, Kiribati Independent, to check its facts before it publishes any stories about the government, or face being shut down.
Photo: RNZ
The warning comes after the newspaper reported missing funds from Taiwan being 1.3 million US dollars, but the government said the figure was about half a million dollars.
Mr Tong has accepted the newspaper's apology, but has warned the government has the right to de-register or shut down any newspaper that continues to report unfairly against his government.
He claims the newspaper is the opposition party's publication because most of its stories are anti-government.
The newspaper's editor, Taberannang Korauaba, says naming it as the opposition's publication has no basis.
He has called on the President to adopt a more open and friendly approach to the media, especially those not owned by the government.
