19 Dec 2006

Four Fiji cabinet ministers seek jobs in interim administration

10:45 am on 19 December 2006

At least four cabinet ministers in Fiji's deposed Qarase government are reported to have applied for jobs in the military's proposed interim regime.

The Fijilive news website says this has been confirmed by both the military commander, Commodore Bainimarama, and the military spokesman, Major Neumi Leweni.

Major Leweni says they could not disclose the names of the applicants yet because the military is still going through the list of 400 people who had applied for caretaker cabinet jobs.

He says the army is looking for 14 people to take up positions as interim ministers.

Major Leweni says the army will ensure that members of the deposed SDL government do not take part in future elections.

He says the military does not want corruption linked to the SDL government to rear its head again in future.