Pacific forum calls for Fiji poll

The December 2006 coup in Fiji was its fourth in two decades

Foreign ministers from the 16-member Pacific Islands Forum have called on Fiji's military regime to return the nation to democracy within 18 months.

At a meeting in Vanuatu, the ministers described last December's military coup as "unconstitutional and unacceptable".

Deposed Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase has said he is being investigated for treason, accused of seeking foreign help to prevent the army taking power.

Fiji's new military leader says that elections will not be held until 2010.

Election call

The organisation sent senior officials to Fiji to examine the deep-seated political issues that led to last December's military takeover.

Foreign ministers at the forum endorsed the officials' report, which recommends that Fiji's army commander, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, resign from the post of interim prime minister and that elections be held within 18 months.

"The takeover of government by the Republic of Fiji Military Forces was unconstitutional and unacceptable," the ministers said in a statement.

"The interim government should commit to a firm timetable for a national election which ... should be held in between 18 months and two years, if not sooner."

Commodore Bainimarama is likely to be unmoved.

He has previously stated that a return to democracy won't happen for at least another three years.

His country's suspension from the Commonwealth and international sanctions have failed to break the commodore's resolve.

The New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the crisis in Fiji was one of the most "complex and disturbing situations" the Pacific Islands Forum had ever confronted.

Treason accusations

Commodore Bainimarama seized power in Fiji after complaining that the government of Laisenia Qarase was corrupt.

Mr Qarase has strongly denied the allegations and has said he may face charges of treason.

The army has claimed the deposed leader sought help from Australia and New Zealand to prevent last year's coup.

Mr Qarase has insisted that he was only seeking information on foreign aid and not armed intervention.

As well as toppling Fiji's elected government, the military has been accused of abusing human rights as it tightens its grip on power in the troubled South Pacific country.