22 Nov 2006

Fiji military wants PM investigated over commander

3:27 pm on 22 November 2006

Fiji's military is calling on the police to investigate the prime minister, Laisenia Qarase, and others for their failed attempt to remove the army commander earlier this month.

Radio Legend says although President Iloilo had agreed to replace Commodore Frank Bainimarama, the commander of Land Forces, Col Pita Driti, says Mr Qarase and his team had plotted the move to oust their commander.

Col Driti says the prime minister's actions bordered on inciting a mutiny against Commodore Bainimarama.

He says the military as an institution and its senior officers are concerned that another similar attempt may be made.

Col Driti says they do not want to see Fiji's Australian police commissioner, Andrew Hughes, heading the police while investigations are conducted against the military and its commander.