Papua New Guinea suspends Australia's aid

How would they have reacted to a cavity search?

Papua New Guinea suspended Australia's $A800 million aid program today in protest at Prime Minister Michael Somare's treatment at Brisbane airport last month, when he had to remove his shoes at a security check.

The PNG government Chief Secretary Joshua Kalinoe said the 149 Australian police and civil servants already in the country as part of the aid program would be allowed to stay but no new personnel would be accepted until Canberra apologised for Somare's treatment.

Wonder if this will tempt anyone to give Kofi's shoes a thorough check the next time he's at a US airport? Screw it, bend over and spread 'em, Kofi.

Update: It'll be great if the government stands firm:

The Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, says it is up to PNG to decide whether it accepts the aid.

"If we are generous enough to go and offer another country $800 million worth of assistance and they want that, then we'll agree to do that, that's entirely satisfactory," he said.

"But ultimately it's for them to benefit from, not us. It's going to be a cost to us."

Shut up and take the money you fools.