30 Jun 2006

Fiji President refers Chaudhry's Senate nominees back for more information

5:38 pm on 30 June 2006

The Fiji Labour Party Mahendra Chaudhry's list of nominees for appointment to the Senate has suffered a further setback with President Iloilo seeking more information.

Radio Fiji reports that President Iloilo has asked the opposition leader, Mick Beddoes, to seek clarification from the Labour Party president, Jokapeci Koroi, on the names submitted by Mr Chaudhry.

Mr Beddoes says he will forward the information to the president as soon as it is provided to him.

The report quotes officials at the President's Office as saying President Iloilo is willing to wait till Mr Chaudhry's return from overseas before approving his nominees.

Radio Fiji says it understands the president told Mr Beddoes to ensure that the list submitted by Mr Chaudhry has the endorsement of the party's leadership.

President Iloilo is believed to have made the decision in order to head off any court proceedings arising out of the row over the list in the Labour Party's leadership this week.