Fiji's new President sworn in

2:30 PM

The head of the Great Council of Chiefs, Sitiveni Rabuka, has sworn in Ratu Josefo Iloilo as the new President of Fiji in a small ceremony in Suva.

Ratu Iloilo has called on Fijians to bury their racial biases and work together. He says Fiji is one country and one people and everyone deserves to be shown equal concern.

The new President is already under pressure from the New Zealand Government after the announcement of a series of sanctions.

Australia says it won't be applying sanctions for humanitarian reasons.

However, rebel spokesman Joe Nata says the coup leaders are not concerned about the international condemnation Fiji faces.

He says the rebels don't expect President Iloilo will go against their demands as Mr Iloilo is supported by coup leader George Speight.

- IRN

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