Fiji’s military ruler postponed elections promised for March 2009 to return the island to democracy after ousting the government in a bloodless coup 20 months ago, a news report said Friday.

Commodore Frank Bainimarama told the Fijivillage news Web site in an exclusive interview that the March 2009 timetable for elections was not realistic because much-needed electoral reforms could not be completed and implemented in eight months.

“There is no date set for an election,” Bainimarama told the news site, adding that the government’s initial plan was to hold the vote in 2010.

Under Fiji’s 1997 Constitution, indigenous Fijians, ethnic Indians and other races vote in separate race-based constituencies. Bainimarama has said this system must change before Fiji can hold a free and fair election. He has also said he hopes to root out corruption and reshape the South Pacific nation’s race-based political system before holding a vote.

The self-appointed prime minister seized power in a coup d’etat in December 2006 _ the fourth coup in the Pacific island nation in the last 21 years.

Bainimarama pledged elections by March 2009 at a Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Tonga last August. He said he gave the date because Tongan Prime Minister Fred Sevele told him the international community would be flexible if more time was needed, the Fijivillage report said.

“I came up with March 2009 at the forum on the understanding if there needs to be an extension in time the international community will be very flexible,” Bainimarama was quoted as saying. “Unfortunately for me that date was added in and written in blood by everyone in the international community.”

Calls seeking comment from Fiji government officials were not answered late Friday.

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