Fiji military chief

Suva, Jan 5: Fiji's military commander tightened his grip on power when he was sworn in as interim prime minister today exactly a month after his bloodless coup overthrew the South Pacific nation's elected government.

Commander Frank Bainimarama said he would remain head of the military as well as lead the interim government, but the man he ousted, former Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, warned that Fiji was heading towards military dictatorship.

Bainimarama staged Fiji's fourth coup in 20 years on December 5. He was sworn in as interim premier today by President Ratu Josefa Iloilo, whom he reinstated a day earlier after assuming his largely ceremonial powers during the coup. ''In all things, I will be a true and faithful prime minister,'' Bainimarama said as he took the oath of office.

''Let us put the interest of the nation at heart,'' he said.

Bainimarama said he would lead Fiji to new elections ''after an advanced electoral office and systems are in place and the political and economic conditions are conducive to the holding of such elections''.

He gave no indication when elections might be held.

The military said the state of emergency it declared during the coup would remain in place and that Qarase should stay on his home island in Fiji's remote east, where he was sent after being ousted from office.

Qarase, re-elected for a second five-year term last May, told news Web site Fiji Village (www.fijivillage.com) that he would return to the capital Suva next week.

Bainimarama toppled Qarase's government in Fiji's fourth coup since 1987, accusing it of corruption, racism and of being too soft on those responsible for the previous coup in 2000.

Iloilo, an ageing and ailing figurehead who is rarely seen in public, said in a national address yesterday that he endorsed the military's action and would grant immunity from civil and criminal prosecution for those involved.

Bainimarama had installed Jona Baravilala Senilagakali, a former army doctor and Methodist lay preacher, as caretaker prime minister during the coup.

Bainimarama has since purged the police, judiciary and public service of senior officials and cracked down against those who have spoken out against his coup.

The overthrow has brought international condemnation, with Australia, New Zealand, Britain and the United States imposing economic and defence sanctions.

A former British colony, Fiji had its Commonwealth membership suspended in protest at the coup, just as it had after similar upheavals in 1987 and 2000.

Many warned that the coup would significantly damage Fiji's fragile economy, which is based on tourism and an inefficient and uncompetitive sugar industry. Tourism bookings fell dramatically around the time of the coup.

REUTERS

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