Suva: Fiji appointed a new interim government on Friday without any rebel backers of jailed coup leader George Speight, who caretaker prime minister Laisenia Qarase said was no longer a threat.

Speight, arrested by the military on Wednesday and facing possible treason charges, had threatened further civil unrest unless his supporters dominated the new government.

Fiji has been embroiled in turmoil since Speight stormed parliament in May taking hostages and demanding an end to Indian political power and government roles for his nationalist supporters.

But Fiji President Josefa Iloilo defied Speight and dropped all four of his backers from an earlier administration, reappointed Qarase and named Ratu (chief) Epeli Nailatikau deputy prime minister.

After being sworn in, Qarase called on all Fijians to end widespread lawlessness in the ally split nation.

''The lawlessness that has swept the country must stop,'' Qarase said. ''We must promote national reconciliation and healing not only between the Fijians and Indo-Fijians, but also between the Fijians themselves,'' Qarase said.

Indians make up 44 per cent of Fiji's 800,000 population and dominate the economy, which has been battered in the turmoil.

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