The Fiji government has failed in its bid to have the military commander, Rear Admiral Frank Bainimarama, appointed head of UNIKOM, the United Nations Observer Mission in Kuwait.
The United Nations has appointed a Polish general to the position.
Senior army officers had already begun vying to succeed Rear Admiral Bainimarama and some were implicated in the November 2000 mutiny which was aimed at assassinating him.
Rear Admiral Bainimarama is quoted as saying he will now continue to rebuild the military following the split which led to the mutiny.
He says he is more determned than ever to unite the military under his leadership.
