Fiji government swearing in delayed, president reported ill

President Ratu Josefa Iloilo takes the oath during the swearing-in ceremony at Borron House in Suva on Tuesday

July 19, 2000
Web posted at: 10:10 a.m. HKT (0210 GMT)

SUVA, Fiji (Reuters) -- Fiji's Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase said on Wednesday the swearing in of his new civilian government would be postponed indefinitely because President Ratu Josefa Iloilo was ill.

However, a spokesman for nationalist rebels who overthrew Fiji's elected government in May said earlier on Wednesday that the ceremony had been cancelled because the rebels were unhappy with the new line-up of ministers. A Cabinet meeting planned for Thursday was also postponed.

"Regrettably his excellency the President Ratu Josefa Iloilo is ill disposed this morning so he is resting...so regrettably the swearing in ceremony is deferred until further notice," Qarase told journalists.

The rebels stormed parliament in May and took hostages including former ethnic Indian prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry. He was released last week after rebel demands for an end to Indian political power were met.

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On Tuesday, rebel leader George Speight expressed dissatisfaction with the make-up of the new government and warned of a backlash when his supporters failed to win key positions in the new Cabinet.

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