17 Jul 2003

Fiji Supreme Court to rule on multi-party cabinet tomorrow

10:10 am on 17 July 2003

Fiji's Supreme Court will give its judgement tomorrow on whether the Labour Party is entitled to be part of the Qarase government.

Radio FM-96 reports that the ruling will be delivered by the chief justice, Daniel Fatiaki, amid increased security around the Government Buildings where the Supreme Court is located.

It will come more than three weeks after a panel of four senior overseas judges and the chief justice heard the case.

The matter went to the Supreme Court when the government appealed against two earlier High Court and Appeal Court rulings that the Labour Party was constitutionally entitled to be part of the cabinet.

The prime minister, Laisenia Qarase, says he is fiercely opposed to Laboiur's inclusion in his government but will abide by the court's ruling.

Sinificant international aid projects are on hold awaiting the government's response to the outcome of the case.