14 Mar 2012

Fiji regime leader says ousted PMs no longer wanted

6:11 pm on 14 March 2012

Fiji's interim prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, says the former prime ministers, Mahendra Chaudhry and Laisenia Qarase, are two examples of politicians that are not wanted in the country.

Commodore Bainimarama made the comment to Fijilive, adding that they don't have to bother Fiji every day by saying what they intend to do during elections.

Both politicians, who lost office in military coups, are no longer censored and last week the regime announced that consultations are about to begin to prepare a constitution for an election promised for 2014.

The military leader has said Mr Qarase will be allowed to stand although he has previously also said Mr Qarase must never be returned to power.

In the past month, both Commodore Bainimarama and Mr Qarase, who is the leader of the SDL Party, have suggested they could win the next election.