Deeply disappointed by the collapse of Fiji's political process, the US on Friday voiced concern over the latest developments in the island nation, where a sizeable section of the population is of Indian origin.
The US also asked the interim authorities in Fiji to work towards restoration of democracy in the country.
"We call upon Fiji's interim authorities to respect the protections accorded to the people of Fiji by the 1997 Constitution until the country can once again hold free and fair elections," State Department Deputy Acting Spokesman Richard Aker, said in a statement.
Aker said the return of democracy in Fiji will depend on an open and transparent process, which includes the participation of all political parties in a genuine dialogue.
Fiji's President Ratu Josefa Iloilo announced today in a nationally broadcast radio address that he had abolished the constitution, assumed all governing power and revoked all judicial appointments.
The move came a day after the country's second-highest court ruled that the military government that took power after a 2006 coup was illegal.
The dialogue needs to be inclusive, time-bound, and with no pre-determined outcome, he said, renewing America's call for Fiji to adhere to the timetable and benchmarks articulated by the Pacific Islands Forum.
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