Australia will send a senior Queen's Counsel to prosecute Fiji's vice president, Ratu Jope Seniloli, on serious coup related charges next month.
Ratu Jone, the deputy speaker of parliament, Ratu Rakuita Vakalalabure, and the sports minister, Isireli Leweniqila, have been charged with taking an illegal oath, to commit a capital offence and another of engaging in a seditious enterprise.
Ratu Jope purported to become the president and the other two ministers in George Speight's failed administration right after the May 2000 coup.
The director of public prosecutions in New South Wales, Nick Cowdery, says the most senior prosecutor in the state, Mark Tedeschi, QC, is being sent to prosecute the Fiji vice president at the request of the Fiji Director of Public Prosecutions.
He says it's a very good example of international co-operation in providing assistance to jurisdictions that require it and Mr Tedeschi's services will be free of charge.
Ratu Jope and the others will face High Court trial next month.
