3 Jan 2007

Fiji military to relinquish leadership by the end of the month

10:51 am on 3 January 2007

The Fiji military spokesperson, Major Neumi Leweni has confirmed an interim government will be in place by the end of the month, but stopped short of confirming that executive authority will be handed over to President Ratu Josefa Iloilo in two weeks.

No date has been set but reports say that Iloilo will appoint an interim administration on the advice of the military by the end of the month, that will take Fiji through to the next election.

But Major Leweni wouldn't confirm reports on the appointments.

"We can confirm that there will be an interim government, but as far as that report is concerned we cannot really confirm, lets just leave it at that, that there will be an interim government in a few weeks time, that's all we can say at the moment."

The military overthrew the Laisenia Qarase-led Government on December 5 in a bloodless coup, citing corruption to justify its "clean-up campaign"..