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Fiji Cabinet sworn in

WELLINGTON: Fiji Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase's new Cabinet was sworn in on Tuesday after this month's general election.

According to local news service The Fijilive, 14 Cabinet ministers and 12 Ministers have been sworn into the new multi-party administration in the morning.

The nine Fiji Labour Party MPs offered Cabinet portfolios boycotted the swearing in at Government House to attend an emergency meeting of their caucus.

But the Labour Party has eventually accepted changes made by Mr. Qarase to the multi-party Cabinet line-up after a caucus meeting in Suva.

And its leader Mahendra Chaudhry said he hoped that the nine Labour Party ministers will be sworn in on Tuesday afternoon, if President Ratu Josefa Iloilo is available.

``Whatever Qarase gives us we'll go with it,'' said Mr. Chaudhry, who was upset about Prime Minister's arrangement of portfolios about Labour Party's MPs.

Mr. Chaudhry has maintained he will remain in Opposition.

Mr. Qarase has retained many of his senior Ministers but he has also made some significant changes. Kaliopate Tavola, who did not contest the elections and is no longer an elected MP, retains his former portfolio of Foreign Relations and External trade through a Senate appointment. Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu is the Minister for Fijian Affairs. — Xinhua

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