28 Aug 2009

Call for speedy elections in Fiji rejected

2:03 pm on 28 August 2009

Fiji's interim government says nothing can be done to pressure it into holding elections before 2014.

Ousted prime minister Laisenia Qarase and Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudry have written outlining a case for elections to be held as early as next year.

But an interim government spokesperson, Lt Col Neumi Leweni told the Australia Network they will not be swayed. He said the two were wasting their time.

Lieutenant Colonel Leweni says the government has already set a deadline on issues that need to be addressed and that's the course of action the government has decided to take.

Meanwhile, the government has reiterated an invitation to a Commonwealth team to visit the country next week as it fights to stop its expulsion from the Commonwealth group.

FijiLive reports interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama has written back to Commonwealth Secretary General Kamlesh Sharma after the Commonwealth Secretariat turned down Fiji's proposal for a visit on 29 August.

Fiji is under a Commonwealth deadline of 1 September to provide an earlier date to hold elections and electoral reforms.