Fed: Canberra unaware of US threat to bankrupt Nauru
Australian officials are reportedly unaware how heavily the United States is pressuringNauru to abandon its policy of selling passports as a revenue raising exercise.
The Australian newspaper yesterday reported the Pacific Island had scrapped the schemeafter pressure from Washington, which feared the scheme was being used by al-Qaeda members.
The US had reportedly even promised it would shut down the island's economy if it didnot cooperate.
The paper today says Australian federal government sources are surprised at the American'shardline tactics.
Nauru scrapped the scheme last month as a result of pressure from Washington.
However opposition foreign affairs spokesman KEVIN RUDD accuses the government of goingsoft on Nauru because of its role in the pacific solution.
Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer told the paper through a spokesman Australiahad been involved in providing technical advice to Nauru on anti-money-laundering legislationand it had been enacted into law.
AAP RTV ld/wz
KEYWORD: NAURU (SYDNEY)
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