The leader of Fiji's Labour Party says the party still has a future, despite winning no seats in last year's election.
Mahendra Chaudhry has announced he intends to stand down after 23 years as leader, one of those as prime minister.
But the once-powerful party has dwindled since the 2006 coup, and it gained only two percent of the vote at last year's election, well below the threshold needed to gain a seat in parliament.
But Mr Chaudhry says both he and the party have been victims of campaigns by the Bainimarama regime to eliminate the party, and it will one day return to its former strength.
"Well the party is there, the Labour Party will recover and I will assist the party, I will remain with the party and I'm sure we will be able to build it back to what it was."
A new leader will be appointed at the party's conference next month.
Mahendra Chaudhry Photo: AFP
