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Fiji poll in March 2009: Premier

SUVA (Fiji): The coup-prone South Pacific nation of Fiji will hold democratic elections on March 13, 2009, armed forces chief and coup leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama announced on Wednesday.

Cmdr. Bainimarama, who seized power on December 5 in the nation’s fourth coup in 20 years, confirmed the election date to reporters during a tour of government-owned agencies in the capital, Suva.

Cmdr. Bainimarama overthrew the democratically elected Government of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and named himself Prime Minister. He immediately closed Parliament, accused the former Government of corruption and of using racist policies to retain power among indigenous Fijians, and said he would “clean up” Fiji before returning it to democracy.

Cmdr. Bainimarama’s military-led regime has been under heavy pressure to restore democracy from the 16-nation Pacific Islands Forum grouping. — AP

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