The United States Secretary of State Hilary Clinton is urging Fiji to restore democracy to the country.

Clinton also said that she backs the demand by South Pacific Leaders for elections to take place in the country this year.

According to Radio New Zealand, Clinton met with Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully where she said that democracy must not be extinguished in Fiji.

Clinton said the US joins New Zealand in encouraging Fiji's interim government to abide by the Pacific Island Forum's benchmarks and timetable to restore democracy in that country.