2 Aug 2009

No comment by Fiji on deadline from Commonwealth

5:42 am on 2 August 2009

Fiji is not commenting on a threat by the Commonwealth to suspend its membership until it has been directly informed of the decision.

The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on Friday issued Fiji a deadline of 1 September to commit to holding elections in October 2010, or else it will be suspended.

Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khayum says the Government will wait to receive official word of the decision, before making any statement on the matter.

Fiji is already suspended from the Councils of the Commonwealth.

The elected government in Fiji was overthrown by the military in December 2006. It was the fourth coup there since 1987.

Fiji was suspended from the Pacific Forum on 1 May, 2009.