Wednesday, September 13 2006 15:39 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Canberra: Australian Prime Minister John Howard today (Sept 13, 2006) defended the country's high commissioner in the Solomon Islands, saying it will not accept his expulsion from the Pacific island country.

The Solomon Islands government alleged that Australian High Commissioner Patrick Cole had been "talking too much to the opposition".

The Solomons government alleged the high commissioner expressed his opposition to a government-appointed commission of inquiry into the civil unrest in the Solomons' capital of Honiara in April.

Cole was declared persona non grata by the Solomons government and is expected to leave Honiara within days.

Howard said Cole had done nothing wrong and was representing Australia's interests by expressing his concerns about corruption in the Solomons.

"We don't accept for a moment the expulsion of our high commissioner. He was doing the right thing. He was representing the interests of Australia and was concerned about corruption in the Solomon Islands," he told Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio.

"He's concerned that the proposed commission of inquiry will subvert the legal process and could work to the benefit, improperly of people who have been charged under the legal system of the Solomon Islands," he said.

Howard was referring two Solomons MPs accused of inciting April's riots.

The Australian Government held serious concerns the commission would undermine court cases against the two MPs and shift blame onto police, including Australian officers serving in the country.