19 Jul 2005

Fiji military denies any input into latest National Security Council meeting

10:19 am on 19 July 2005

Fiji's military has denied having any input into yesterday's National Security Council meeting which considered the security situation in the country.

After the meeting the prime minister, Laisenia Qarase, said the security situation in the country was normal and there was nothing to worry about.

Mr Qarase said both the military and the police had assured the home affairs minister, Josefa Vosanibola, there would not be any coup and there was nothing to be concerned about.

But the military spokesman, Captain Neumi Leweni, has told Radio Legend that the army did not give any security briefing to Mr Vosanibola ahead of the National Security Council meeting.

Captain Leweni said people should not be misled by members of the National Security Council as the military had no input in the meeting, either through the commander or any representative of Commodore Bainimarama.

Meanwhile, Radio Fiji reports that the police commissioner, Andrew Hughes, was not consulted nor was he asked for a briefing prior to yesterday's National Security Council meeting.

But Mr Hughes is quoted as saying he briefs Mr Vosanibola regularly on security issues.