After coup, U.N. seeks Fiji govt return

UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has deplored the coup d'état in Fiji, calling for an immediate return of the Pacific isle's legitimate government.

He urged a "return to constitutional rule through peaceful means and inclusive dialogue," said his spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, in a statement issued Tuesday.

It also said Annan is "fully supportive of the efforts by the Pacific Islands Forum and other regional and international actors towards that end and remains in close consultation with them to work together to resolve this crisis."

Fiji's military leader, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, said in the capital Suva neither Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase nor President Josefa Iloilo have power any more. Iloilo was reported to be under house arrest.

Last week the secretary-general warned Fiji's international standing, especially as a contributor to U.N. peacekeeping missions, could be jeopardized by the current political crisis.

Dujarric said the statement should not be seen as a threat, but it was clear that any coup damages the reputation of Fiji, a country which has made valued contributions to U.N. peacekeeping. The spokesman added there has been no discussion on removing Fijian soldiers who serve with the United Nations and said they perform an admirable job in protecting the U.N. staff in Baghdad.