Fiji's new military commander says the country has moved beyond the need for another coup.
Brigadier-General Mosese Tikoitoga has been promoted to head the Republic of Fiji Military Forces to replace Commodore Frank Bainimarama, who is stepping down to contest elections.
After taking up the role today in a formal handover ceremony in Suva, Brigadier Tikoitoga says there will be no need for the military to intervene to change government after planned elections in September.
He says the military's major responsibility is to protect the new constitution which provides for equal citizenry for every Fijian.
"And when that happens there should not be any segment of society that feels that they need to do something different. And the RFMF will support that constitution. And under that constitution there is no thinking of going back to the coups. I think we've gone past that era and we're not revisiting it."
Brigadier-General Mosese Tikoitoga
