Nauru police doubt refugee machete story

Nauru police have accused a refugee of making up a machete attack in order to get media attention.

A 34-year-old Iranian was hit on the head and attacked by two Nauruans at the weekend, sustaining injuries that required eight stitches, the Refugee Action Coalition claimed.

Nauru police said they responded immediately to the complaint but the man had refused to allow officers to conduct a medical examination and co-operate with the investigation.

"There was no obvious physical evidence of any attack," police said in a statement on Thursday.

The complaint was made for media exposure only and had no basis, they said.