Fiji’s military ruler defied international pressure to announce elections by Friday, confirming that he would not hold them for at least five years and setting the stage for his country’s ouster from a South Pacific bloc.

Calling the military takeover in Fiji “a step backwards,” the U.N. Security Council on Monday demanded the restoration of democracy and fair elections as soon as possible in the volatile South Pacific nation.

Fiji’s central bank slashed one-fifth of the value from the country’s currency Wednesday to try to save the economy from collapse amid a deepening political crisis over the military ruler’s refusal to hold elections any time soon.

Fiji’s military ruler said Tuesday it could be 10 years before he relinquishes power, issuing a defiant challenge to South Pacific leaders as they met to press him into restoring democracy.

Rain-soaked Fiji faces at least three more days of storms after its worst flooding in a generation killed 11 people, forced thousands to flee swamped homes and stranded foreign tourists, officials said Wednesday.

Rain-soaked Fiji faces at least three more days of storms after its worst flooding in a generation killed nine people, forced thousands to flee swamped homes and stranded foreign tourists, officials said Wednesday.

Heavy rain and strong winds lashed Fiji’s flood-devastated western region Wednesday, where the death toll from the worst storms in a generation rose to nine and thousands of residents huddled in emergency shelters.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is holding talks with counterparts from across the South Pacific and urging them to press Fiji’s military government to restore democracy.

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...

Fiji’s military government defied a High Court order and deported the Australian publisher of the South Pacific country’s leading newspaper Friday, continuing a campaign of media intimidation it began within days of seizing power.The coup-installed...