Fiji coup govt endorses 2009 election timetable

CANBERRA, June 19 (Reuters) Fiji's military-backed government said today it was willing to hold elections by early 2009, a year earlier than planned, but asked the European Union, Australia and New Zealand to help with the poll.

Self-appointed Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, who seized power in a bloodless coup on Dec 5, 2006, said his cabinet had agreed ''in principle'' to an election timetable put forward by the 16-nation Pacific Islands Forum.

New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters said Fiji's decision was a step towards a return to democracy, but said his country would be closely watching preparations for the polls.

''It is, however, an in-principle acceptance only, and there is a long way to go before elections can actually be held,'' Peters said in a statement.

The Pacific Islands Forum said in a report earlier this month Fiji should update its voter lists after a 2007 census, followed by a voter education programme, and hold elections in the first quarter of 2009, although it could be brought forward to November 2008.

Bainimarama has previously said he would hold elections in 2010.

Bainimarama's coup drew international condemnation, with Australia, New Zealand, Britain and the United States imposing economic, diplomatic and defence sanctions.

Fiji's relationship with New Zealand hit a new low last week when Bainimarama ordered New Zealand's High Commissioner Michael Green to leave, accusing him of meddling in the country's domestic affairs.

Green arrived home today, while an angry New Zealand government considers its response.

Despite the latest tensions, Bainimarama said he wanted the European Union, Australia and New Zealand to give financial and technical help for the national census, voter education programmes and elections office.

''What we need is for them not to interfere in our domestic affairs as we proceed along the road to parliamentary elections,'' Bainimarama said in a statement.

''We need financial and technical assistance, but not at the expense of our sovereignty.'' Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, a vocal critic of Bainimarama's coup who has urged a speedy return to democracy, said Australia would give financial and technical help, as long as Fiji demonstrated it was serious about holding elections.

A former British colony of about 900,000 people, Fiji had its Commonwealth membership suspended after the coup, just as it did after two similar upheavals in 1987 and again in 2000.

Bainimarama toppled elected Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase in December, claiming Qarase's largely indigenous government was corrupt and too soft on those responsible for the 2000 coup.

REUTERS RKM VV1451