Writethru: Commonwealth suspends Fiji's membership

The Commonwealth has decided to suspend Fiji's membership in its decision-making bodies on Friday in protest at this week's military coup in the South Pacific nation.

In a statement, Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon said the decision was made by foreign ministers from Britain and eight other nations at an emergency meeting of the Commonwealth's Ministerial Action Group in London.

The ministers had decided the takeover was a "serious violation of the Commonwealth's fundamental principles," he said.

"Fiji's military regime should forthwith be suspended from the Councils of the Commonwealth pending the restoration of democracy and the rule of law in that country," he said.

The suspension means representatives of the government installed by Fiji's military are barred from taking part in Commonwealth meetings and activities, including get-togethers of its heads of state.

Fiji's army commander Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama announced on Tuesday that he had seized control from the elected government, led by Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase.

Earlier this week, the governments of Britain, Australia and New Zealand condemned the coup, the fourth in 19 years in the country.

Source: Xinhua