11 Jul 2007

Fiji interim prime minister accuses US ambassador of spreading misinformation

9:48 am on 11 July 2007

Fiji's interim prime minister has accused the American ambassador in Suva, Larry Dinger, of misinforming US officials about what is happening on the ground in the country.

Commodore Bainimarama made the comment after a US Congressional team which visited Fiji at the weekend said it was disturbed that Fiji may not hold general elections by March 2009.

Commodore Bainimarama says it is obvious the congressmen had not spoken with a wide cross section of society.

He says they are getting the same story from their ambassador, Larry Dinger, as Helen Clark was getting from Michael Green.

Commodore Bainimarama says the congressman would not know anything about Fiji after spending only two days in Nadi and being briefed by someone who does not understand or does not want to understand the events of December 5th.

He says people like Larry Dinger will be gone after their term in Fiji, but the people of Fiji will have to live in the country with their children and their grandchildren, so they should decide what happens in Fiji, not the international community.

He says countries like the United States should assist Fiji to find the best solution to have a truly democratic, free and united country, rather than just calling for elections as soon as possible.