Premier Ewart Brown has expressed concern over the overthrowing of the Government of Fiji by military forces and spoken of his hope that a democratic rule will be restored to the island nation in the Pacific.

The former British colony, which gained independence in 1970 and has a population of 900,000, has suffered a number of military and citizen-led coups since the mid-1980s.

Speaking in the House of Assembly, Dr. Brown said: "Fiji has been thrown into political upheaval by a military-led coup d'etat, the fourth this island nation has endured over the last 19 years, which has seen the nation's leader Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and his Government removed from office."

Dr. Brown said Bermuda's concern was heightened all the more as a delegation headed by House Speaker Stanley Lowe had recently attended the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in Fiji.

"Our concern lies not only for those elected officials and their families who may be directly affected by this action by the Fijian military, but also for the island nation itself," said Dr. Brown.

"Our hope is that this crisis might be resolved without bloodshed and that Fiji may evolve to a point whereby constitutional norms will be honoured and respected and that the rule of law will prevail.

"In time I believe the people of Fiji will ultimately fashion a democracy that will withstand the test of time."

The Premier said Bermuda joined the international community in urging the return of democratic rule to Fiji.