WELLINGTON, May 18 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand Government officials said Thursday "there is no substance to the claim that New Zealand is intending to provide a New Zealander to the position of military commander in Fiji."

    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Phil Goff said New Zealand has received no such request from the Fiji government and the provision of a New Zealand military commander is therefore not under consideration.

    The Fiji military commander has warned New Zealand and Australia not to support moves to have him replaced with an outsider.

    He claimed New Zealand has been trying to get him replaced. He made the statement at a news conference in Fiji Thursday morning.

    According to a Government release, Peters and Goff said "we are very aware of the disagreement that currently exists between the Fiji military commander and the Fiji government."

    "However this is a matter that Fijians themselves need to resolve."

    "New Zealand would not want to take any action that would further complicate that situation," said Peters and Goff.   Enditem