29 Sep 2003

Police in Fiji investigate new names linked with the coup in 2000

4:43 pm on 29 September 2003

Police in Fiji are investigating a new group of so -called "prominent" figures said to have been involved in the coup three years ago.

Lieutenant-Colonel Viliame Seruvakula, who was with the army in Fiji, but now serves in New Zealand's army, gave the list of names in an interview with Fiji police.

Wire agencies and newspaper reports say the police spokesman, Mesake Koroi, believes a decision on what to do with the information would be made in the next week by the Public Prosecutions Office.

The Labour Party leader, Mahendra Chaudhry, who was deposed as Prime Minister in the coup, has called for a speedy completion of the investigations.

Mr Chaudhry says the authorities should re-call Fiji's ambassador to the United Naitons Colonel, Isikia Savua, and the High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, to answer allegations over their involvement in the coup.