13 May 2008

Commonwealth decision lacks understanding, says Fiji regime

8:08 pm on 13 May 2008

The Fiji interim regime says a decision by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group to maintain the suspension does not take account of progress being made.

Commonwealth Foreign Ministers met in London on Monday local time and said they had "grave concern" that Fiji was not going to honour its commitment to hold free and fair elections within a year.

But the interim Fiji Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainmarama, says his Government is creating an environment for dialogue, consensus building and for taking the country forward.

He says the international community doesn't understand the difficulties Fiji faces in convening elections under the current electoral provisions.

Commodore Bainimarama calls these provisions warped and unfair, and he says they are partially responsible for the disenchantment and political instability which Fiji has faced since independence in 1970.