That means the East African country, who has no colonial ties to Britain, can compete in the Games in the Indian capital.

It is not the first country without ties to Britain to join the group.

Mozambique, a former Portuguese colony, is also a member.

The bid for Fiji to have its ban lifted was made by Malaysia at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), attended by 54 countries in Port-of-Spain, but received little support from the other countries in the Commonwealth.

Fiji has been suspended from the Commonwealth since September 1 after it refused to commit to holding elections by October 2010.

Opposition was led by New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key.

He said: "It would undermine the Commonwealth brand and you'll undermine the Pacific leaders who are family trying to stick together to resolve this issue."

Afterwards the CHOGM said the decision to suspend Fiji from the Games was in line with the body's principles under which "sporting ties are inseparable from the values of the association".

They also urged Fiji's military regime to restore civil democracy without delay and to ensure the protection of human rights.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]z


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