14 Apr 2009

Fiji interim government to formally take up office today

10:39 am on 14 April 2009

The Fiji interim government sworn on Saturday will today formally take up office.

The line-up was named by the military commander, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, a day after the head of state, Ratu Josefa Iloilo, abolished the constitution and dismissed the judiciary.

Ratu Josefa had acted in response to a Court of Appeal ruling which had declared the previous Bainamarama interim regime unlawful.

The new interim regime has the same line-up, with the military commander retaining a range of portfolios, including finance, and foreign affairs.

The latest government is the third interim regime since the 2006 military coup.

The first was run by Jona Senilagakali who had been sworn in by Commodore Bainimarama as he purported to be the President for several weeks.

At the time, Dr Senalagakali admitted that the undertaking was illegal but said it was aimed at cleaning out corruption.