5 Sep 2011

'Growing support' for Fiji blueprint

6:06 am on 5 September 2011

A Fiji news website is reporting that nine of the 16 Pacific Island Forum countries are backing Fiji leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama's blueprint for a return to democracy in the island nation.

Fiji remains suspended from the forum following self-appointed prime minister Bainimarama's failure to restore democracy after seizing power in December 2006.

Australia and New Zealand have also introduced sanctions against Fiji.

A vote is now scheduled for 2014, eight years after he staged his coup.

However, Fiji Village website reports that 11 leaders and delegates of Pacific Island countries attending an "Engaging with the Pacific" meeting in Fiji recognised Commodore Bainimarama's plans.

The countries that have reportedly signed the communique include Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, Kiribati and Nauru.

The Pacific Islands Forum will meet in Auckland this week.