Deposed Fiji leader seeks UK support

Fiji's ethnic Indians want to see Mr Chaudhry return

The deposed Prime Minister of Fiji Mahendra Chaudhry arrives in Britain on Monday seeking international support for the reinstatement of his government.

His visit marks the fourth leg of an international tour aimed at restoring his administration and democracy for ethnic Indians, to Fiji.

Mr Chaudhry will spend two weeks in Britain and elsewhere in Europe before moving on to the United States.

He has already been to Australia, New Zealand and India in an effort to bolster support for harsher sanctions against Fiji's army-appointed interim government.

Mr Chaudhry lost power and was held hostage along with his government in May after a coup by rebels led by George Speight, opposed to Fiji's multi-racial democracy.

Rebel demands

The rebels demanded that Fiji abandon it's multi-racial system of government, and ban ethnic Indians such as Mr Chaudhry from holding high office.

Rebel leader George Speight faces treason charges

They accused ethnic Indians, who make up roughly half of the population, of undermining the rights of indigenous Fijians.

Mr Speight is now in jail on charges of treason but the army, who now control the country, have appointed an interim government dominated by ethnic Fijians.

Mr Chaudhry is also seeking the backing of Commonwealth countries and the United Nations to urge the interim government to restore the political rights of Indian people in Fiji.