Fiji’s military ruler has indicated that he might hold elections a year earlier than planned, to restore parliamentary democracy.
Commodore Frank Bainimarama said his Cabinet agreed “in principle” to hold elections by March 2009, revising a previous timetable of mid-2010.
His comments follow a report by the Pacific Islands Forum, which said it was possible to meet the earlier date.
Fiji’s leaders have faced pressure since they launched a coup in December.
The small South Pacific country – which has seen four coups in two decades – has been hit by sanctions from the EU, US, New Zealand and Australia in the aftermath of the takeover.
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– BBC (June 19, 2007)
