15 Apr 2009

Fiji's Bainimarama says court ruling was wrong

9:44 am on 15 April 2009

Fiji's military leader, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, says a court ruling last week that his government was illegal was wrong and he is carrying out the will of the people.

Last week, Fiji's President revoked the constitution after the Court of Appeal ruling.

Emergency regulations are now in place which give the military power to detain suspected dissidents and control the media.

Commodore Bainimarama says the Court of Appeal judges had made up their minds in advance and were trying to force an election.

He says he couldn't accept the verdict and a majority of people in the country want changes in the political system.

"Sixty four of the people want electoral reforms as opposed to the old electoral system of communal voting, based on race, you want to move away from that, we want to go to elections with the electoral reform."

Commodore Bainimarama says elections will be held by September 2014 and media controls may come off in a month.