I want to return to Govt: Qarase
Tuesday September 04, 2007

Fiji's ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase says he wants to contest the next general election although the army does not want him and members of his Cabinet to return.

Qarase, 66, told fijilive that "subject to his health and party selection processes" he would contest the next general election.

"The constitution sets out the qualification for people to stand in the elections and I qualify," he said.

"My Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL) members hold the same view."

Interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama yesterday said that the military council "is of the view that for Fiji to move forward and to stop the coup culture, people like Qarase and members of his Cabinet should not be part of the democratically-elected government".

He said that his December 5 coup was provoked by the SDL Government's "racist policies".

When asked this morning about Qarase's plans to contest the next election, Commodore Bainimarama opted not to comment.

"Let's leave it at that," he said.

The interim Government has agreed in principle to hold elections in March, 2009.