Mr Sogavare said the claim in the article that the Taiwanese government was the guarantor of an $8.3-million loan he had taken from the ANZ Bank to purchase an estate with five executive houses at Lunga was purely fabricated to tarnish his good image.

He said contrary to the report, the Taiwanese government had only written to the ANZ Bank which he had loaned $2.9-million to buy two executive houses at Lunga to confirm its intention to rent the house for one of its staff.

The Prime Minister said the confirmation was required by the Bank to ensure he would be able to repay his loan as agreed to in the loan agreement.

Mr Sogavare said the Prime Minister was not above bank rules or requirements just as the Prime Minister was not above the law.