Fiji's new President sworn in

Fiji's new President sworn in
ASSOCIATED PRESS

SUVA, JULY 18: A frail, elderly tribal chief was sworn today as Fiji's new President and immediately began preaching reconciliation for the ethnically divided South Pacific nation

Ratu Josefa Iloilo was sworn in at an all-Fijian ceremony in the stately official residence overlooking the capital city's harbour.

"We are one, as one nation and one people," Iloilo told an audience that included nationalist coup leader George Speight, the country's former military head of state commodore Frank Bainimarama, and 1987 coup leader and former prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka.

Iloilo, his left hand shaking from Parkinson's disease, said he would be "dedicated to promoting national unity and encouraging moderation, inclusiveness, consideration and compassion of all in our country."

Speight, who backed Iloilo's appointment said, "We are pleased, it's a good day for the Fijian people."

Iloilo is expected to name a new cabinet within days and the world is waiting to see if it will include Speight supporters. If it does, Fiji is likely to be slapped with international sanctions.

New Zealand did not wait even for the cabinet line-up to be announced, imposing sanctions yesterday. The Australian cabinet is meeting later today to discuss sanctions.

Asked if he would find ethnic Indians acceptable in the cabinet, Speight replied, "Not at the moment, not if I can help it." He described deposed prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry's declared intention to return to office as "misguided."

The crisis triggered by Speight's coup has left Fiji facing international isolation and economic ruin.

Australia today followed New Zealand's lead by slashing its aid to its Pacific neighbour and curtailing military cooperation. Both countries decided against economic sanctions on the grounds that would only aggravate the country's severe economic crisis and punish the innocent.

The government announced today would have included more Indians but a number of candidates withdrew out of concern for their own safety.