LONDON: The 53-nation Commonwealth says it is ready to suspend Fiji if it does not respond to a demand to begin restoring democracy to the island nation.

Spokesman Eduardo del Buey said Tuesday the group is waiting for a response from Fiji's interim government. The government in Suva has until midnight local time to respond.

In July, the Commonwealth said the Fijian government must promise to resume dialogue with the country's opposition or face being cut off from all aid from the group and banned from the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Fiji has been under military rule since self-appointed Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, the country's armed forces chief, seized power in a 2006 coup. His government had promised elections earlier this year.

The Commonwealth includes former British colonies and territories.

AP-TK-01-09-09 0932GMT<.