Sunday, July 27, 2008 - 03:30
AFP News Briefs ListUS Secretary of State Rice arrives in Samoa
US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice arrived here Saturday for regional talks aimed at urging Fiji to hold free elections next year.
Rice arrived at 1250 pm (2350 GMT), accompanied by New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters, to attend a meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum, which includes New Zealand, Australia and 14 island states.
Earlier this month Fiji's interim Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama reneged on a promise to hold elections by March 2009, saying the timetable was no longer achievable because of the need for electoral reforms.
Bainimarama led a military coup in December 2006 which overthrew the elected government, accusing it of corruption and racism against the Indian minority, and has been under pressure to return the country to democracy.
Images
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at Goverment House in Auckland on July 26. Rice arrived here Saturday for regional talks aimed at urging Fiji to hold free elections next year.
© 2007 AFP Brendon O'hagan
