The Nauru government has slammed reports about chaos on the tiny island nation as irresponsible, arrogant and even racist.
In a statement on Tuesday, the government maintained it was calmly going about its business and moved to set the record straight on what it said were sensational and inaccurate reports in the Australian media about chaos on the island and constitutional problems.
Nauru was not in "chaos", there are no constitutional issues and the rule of law is operating and respected, the government said.
Irresponsible reports that suggested otherwise displayed a culture of international bullying, arrogance and even racism, it said.
Nauru's government has been under pressure to explain why it sacked its chief justice Geoffrey Eames and only magistrate Peter Law, both Australian citizens.
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The statement on Tuesday said some critics of that decision had direct links to the two Australian men.
"This is exactly the sort of cronyism that the Nauru government is stamping out," it said.
The government also said the Nauru opposition had moved a no-confidence motion against the government on Tuesday which was defeated on the floor of parliament by a majority of 11 votes to seven.
