21 Feb 2007

Fiji interim administration says new elections three years away

10:41 am on 21 February 2007

Fiji's military-led government says it will take three years to complete the work needed for new elections.

The interim Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, announced his roadmap for a return to democracy yesterday, and said elections will be held by 2010.

He says it will take three years to complete the preparations, including a review of parts of the 1997 constitution to end the politics of race.

Commodore Bainmarama says separate rolls determined by race will be eliminated and there will no longer be voting in accordance with racial classification.

And he says before an election can be held, a national census needs to be conducted with the results used to determine new constituencies.