Newly appointed prime minister calls Fiji coup 'illegal'

SUVA, Fiji: Promised elections to restore democracy to Fiji after the coup this week could be more than two years away, the military-installed prime minister said Thursday, as Fiji's powerful tribal chiefs refused to recognize the new regime.

The new prime minister, Jona Senilagakali, admitted to Australian radio that the coup d'étât staged Tuesday was illegal, contradicting the claims of the military chief, Commander Frank Bainimarama, who claims to be working within the Fijian Constitution.

"There's no doubt about it, it's an illegal takeover," Senilagakali told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

"It is an illegal takeover to clean up the mess of a much bigger illegal activity of the previous government," he clarified, blaming the deposed prime minister, Laisenia Qarase, for stirring hatred within Fijian society by putting "too much emphasis on indigenous Fijian interests."