Coup leader restores president

January 04, 2007

Commodore Frank Bainimarama toppled Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase in Fiji's fourth coup in 20 years, claiming the largely indigenous government was corrupt and too soft on those responsible for the previous coup in 2000. President Ratu Josefa Iloilo, who is in his 80s and in poor health, is rarely seen in public but backed Bainimarama's actions and said he would grant immunity from civil and criminal prosecution for those involved in toppling Qarase.