Wellington, April 11 (Inditop) Two days after Fiji military chief Voreqe Bainimarama’s government was declared illegal by the Court of Appeal, he was back in charge Saturday, sworn in as caretaker prime minister, according to news reports from the capital, Suva.
The oath was administered by President Ratu Josefa Iloilo, who declared himself head of state, revoked the constitution, sacked the judges and placed the Pacific island state under emergency rule Friday, the independent Fijilive website reported.
Local newspapers, radio and TV stations, which were placed under state censorship in emergency regulations, were allowed to attend the swearing in at Government House, but international reporters were barred, Radio New Zealand reported.
Bainimarama, who has governed the country since ousting the elected government in a bloodless military coup in December 2006, stepped down as prime minister following Thursday’s Court of Appeal ruling.
He refused to talk to reporters after he was sworn in and his staff said he would issue a statement later.
Reports said his cabinet ministers would be named by Saturday afternoon.
