Rupert Murdoch's Australian publishing division, News Limited, has sold the Fiji Times newspaper group to a Fijian company.
In announcing the enforced sale to the Motibhai company, News Limited's chief executive John Hartigan said: "We are reluctant sellers of the Fiji Times, but I am delighted that we have been able to find a buyer who will take over the business as a going concern."
The sale follows a media decree by the government led by Commodore Frank Bainimarama, who came to power through a military coup in December 2006.
News Limited was given until 28 September to divest all but 10% of its interest in the Fiji Times, the country's leading newspaper.
Motibhai is owned and run by Mahendra Motibhai Patel, a businessman who has previously served on the board of the Fiji Times as a non-executive director.
Hartigan said: "Motibhai will be very good custodians of the newspaper and as shareholders they will be committed to the future of the Fiji Times."
Source: The Australian
