7 Dec 2006

Fiji coup maker claims previous government corrupt - will investigate

7:24 pm on 7 December 2006

Fiji's coup leader has established a team to investigate what he claims are the corrupt practices of the previous government and has sacked the supervisor of elections.

Commodore Frank Bainimarama announced the measures as part of what he calls his anti-corruption "clean-up" campaign following his overthrow of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase's government on Tuesday.

He says the supervisor of elections had been dismissed, and a replacement would soon be appointed to prepare for fresh elections.

He gave no indication of when they would be held.

The commodore has cited corruption as one of the reasons he moved to overthrow Mr Qarase's government.

He also announced that from Friday Fiji newspapers would carry advertisements seeking applicants for ministerial posts in the interim government.

Commodore Bainimarama told journalists that he is appealing to those Fiji people who have the welfare of the nation at heart to become involved.