Fiji coup leader hands power back to president

Jan 4, 2007, 12:26 GMT

Wellington - Fiji's military strongman Commodore Voreqe 'Frank' Bainimarama, who ousted the South Pacific island state's elected government in a coup a month ago, handed power back to the civilian president Thursday, according to news reports from the capital, Suva.

But he did not reinstate Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, who he toppled after accusing his government of corruption and proposing policies that risked racial strife by favouring indigenous Fijians over the islands' ethnic Indian minority.

Bainimarama, who declared a state of emergency with himself interim head of state after the bloodless coup on December 5, returned executive power to ageing President Ratu Josefa Iloilo.

In a speech from Government House, Iloilo said he fully endorsed the actions of the military and said it had acted in the interests of the nation and the constitution, the Fiji Times newspaper reported on its website.

He also announced that he would swear in a new interim government that would be directed to look into immunity for Bainimarama and his troops for the coup.

'I want to thank the commander and his men for stepping in to ensure security and also for handing back executive power,' he said.

Making his first statement since the coup, Iloilo said he would set up an interim government to rule until new elections.

'It is time to move on, look ahead and take steps to form a democracy,' he said.

Appealing for support from other Pacific countries, he said, 'I look forward to working with our neighbours in taking the country forward. At the same time, I would ask them to recognize our need to find a Fiji-based solution.'

Iloilo said it was now time for the nation to move toward genuine democracy, the Fiji Times website reported.