Malaysia calls for restoration of democracy in Fiji
Malaysiakini.com
Dec 7, 2006

Malaysia is deeply concerned over the coup in Fiji and wants to see democracy restored immediately, Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said.

Syed Hamid said the removal of the democratically elected government of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, who was ousted by military chief Voreqe Bainimarama in a bloodless coup on Tuesday, was completely unjustified.

"Malaysia would like to see the restoration of democracy in Fiji immediately," he said in a statement carried by the state news agency Bernama late yesterday.

Syed Hamid said the action was a violation of the fundamental principles and values of the Commonwealth.

"It is unacceptable for any country to remove a democratically elected government," he added.

Fiji's newly-appointed caretaker prime minister, Jona Senilagakali, admitted Thursday that toppling the country's elected government was illegal, but defended the coup and said fresh elections were up to two years away.

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