25 Aug 2003

Fiji talks focus on number of seats to be shared

4:27 pm on 25 August 2003

The Fiji Labour party says talks between its leader, Mahendra Chaudhry, and the prime minister, Laisenia Qarase, will focus on the number of cabinet seats being offered to them.

The party's vice president, Krishna Datt, says discussions between the two leaders resume again this week but they've not been officially informed by Mr Qarase of any ultimatum to deliver a list of names for cabinet, as reported in the media.

Mr Datt says that's not something they're concerned about as there are other outcomes they want to see from the talks.

"One is the issue about the numbers itself for 14 or 17 as part of our share that's one outcome that we are expecting a clear decision. The second one is and this is as a result of the Prime Ministers insistence for the 36 cabinet portfolios, what is his reaction to the balance list that we have submitted."

Mr Datt says Labour submitted a list of how the portfolios could be shared out some time ago.