Glyn Davis, deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, was scheduled to meet self-proclaimed prime minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama, but was told the commander was too busy.

It is the first visit to Fiji by a senior U.S. official since Bainimarama seized power in a bloodless military coup Dec. 5.

"It had been my intention to meet with Commodore Bainimarama but he has not agreed to meet with me. His decision is unfortunate and represents a missed opportunity," Davis told journalists.

"A meeting would have allowed us to have an open exchange of views and for him to hear directly what the United States believes is necessary for Fiji to move forward politically, economically, and what we are prepared to do to promote that important goal," he said.

Instead, Davis held talks with Fiji's interim foreign minister, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, and interim finance minister, Mahendra Chaudhry.

Davis restated a Pacific Islands Forum plan that calls for the military to return to barracks, refrain from involvement in politics and for Bainimarama to relinquish power to a civilian.