Suspension from Pacific forum looms for Fiji

A senior figure in the Pacific has added to international warnings to Fiji after the latest legal and communications restrictions imposed in the country.

The Premier of Niue and chairman of the Pacific Islands Forum, Toke Talagi, says he is saddened by Fiji's refusal to submit a timeline back to democratic rule.

Mr Talagi says the decision by Fiji's President to dump the constitution and sack the judiciary now make it inevitable that Fiji will face suspension from the Forum.

"My belief at the present moment is that it could very well be that we would be looking at suspending the interim administration," he said.

Meanwhile, Australia's Foreign Minister Stephen Smith says he is worried Fiji's economy will be adversely affected by the erratic behaviour of the country's military regime.