The Papua New Guinea (PNG) government has denied its decision to suspend three senior officials is because of Australia's pressure over fugitive Julian Moti's case.

PNG Prime Minister Michael Somare has said the suspensions are a result of the government's investigations into Moti's escape from PNG to the Solomon Islands, and not because of pressure from the Australian government.

"I owe an explanation to the people of Papua New Guinea and not because of some compulsion to respond to pressures outside Papua New Guinea," he was quoted by Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) radio as saying Wednesday.

ABC radio reported earlier Wednesday that the PNG government suspended its defense force commander, Peter Ilau, the chief secretary to the government, Joshua Kalinoe, and the acting police commissioner, Tom Kulunga.

The suspension came following an investigation into Moti's escape.

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has welcomed PNG's decision.

Moti, an Australian citizen, was appointed as Solomons attorney- general on September 21 and was arrested in PNG at the end of September at the request of the Australian government, who is seeking to extradite Moti to face child sex charges involving a 13- year-old girl in Vanuatu in 1997.

Moti later jumped bail and had been taking political refuge in the Solomon Islands High Commission in PNG before he was flown to the Solomon Islands on board a PNG military plane a month ago.

Moti's case is now the focus of the strained relations between the Solomons and Australia which is sparked by the expulsion of Australian high commissioner in September.

Canberra is not happy with the appointment of Moti, a personal friend of Solomons Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and is seen to have an anti-Australian influence on the prime minister.

But Australia has denied its pursuit of Moti is politically motivated.

Canberra also suspended visits by PNG ministers to Australia.

Source: Xinhua