Ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase says although he was snubbed by NZ Prime Minister, Helen Clark and his Australian counterpart, John Howard at the Pacific Island leaders Forum in Kiribati, he came out all right.

Qarase says there is a big difference when he represented Fiji that year as Interim Prime Minister because he did not carry out the coup himself.

Qarase says since Tonga is the host nation, they have the right to send the invitation letter to the leaders of the 16 nations who are members of the Forum.

Meanwhile Qarase maintains that he is not going to Tonga as earlier claimed in some overseas reports.