Fiji coup leader struggling to find support

SUVA, Fiji (AP) - The leader of this nation's fourth coup in 20 years grew increasingly isolated Thursday, as his hand-picked prime minister said the move was illegal, the nation's traditional leaders refused to back him and the international community expressed disdain.

The prime minister - military medic Dr. Jona Senilagakali - said Thursday it was unclear when democratic elections will be held in the South Pacific nation.

"That could be tomorrow, that could be next week, it could be in the next two years or more," he told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio. "Hopefully in 12 months, two years, we'll be able to have a general election."

Military commander Frank Bainimarama insisted that he had acted to save Fiji's democracy, which he said had been used as cover for the corruption of the officials he deposed. He has promised to return the nation to democracy.

Disputing Bainimarama's claims that the coup was working within the constitution, Senilagakali said: "There's no doubt about it, it's an illegal takeover."

The country's powerful council of tribal chiefs also refused to back the coup, throwing its support instead behind the nation's president, whom it appoints.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard attacked Bainimarama's efforts to justify his act.

"For all it's flaws and the fact that it was struggling in many ways, Fiji had re-embraced democracy and what's happened is wrong, it's brutal and it's an unlawful military takeover," Howard said.