Fiji coup leader joins poll race

It is unclear how Speight can fight a campaign from his cell

By Phil Mercer in Sidney

Fiji coup leader George Speight, in prison pending his trial for treason, has registered as a candidate in next month's general election.

The failed businessman will contest the poll for the nationalist Conservative Alliance party.

Speight held the prime minister hostage for 56 days

The election aims to restore democracy to Fiji, after Mahendra Chaudhry's multi-racial administration was deposed and held hostage by an armed gang led by Mr Speight more than a year ago.

Mr Speight uttered just three words as he arrived - accompanied by 20 police officers - to confirm his candidacy at the airport town of Nausori about 20 km north of Suva in his home province of Tailevu.

"I'll be back," he said, declaring his intention to return as an MP to the parliament he seized last year.

Legalities

Under Fijian law, Mr Speight can stand as a candidate but would lose his seat if he was convicted of a crime. He is facing the most serious criminal case in Fiji's history.

His trial for treason, along with 12 of his close supporters, is due to begin at the High Court at the end of August - in the middle of a week-long general election.

Objections to his nomination must be lodged by the end of this week. Legal sources in Suva are suggesting public prosecutors will seek to have the former rebel leader struck off the list of candidates.

The constituency Mr Speight wants to represent in the new 71-member parliament is the seat of Tailevu North, which was the heartland of support for his uprising last May.

The largely mountainous and forested area is strongly anti-Indian and historically has fought against the mainly Polynesian leadership of Fiji.

Just how Mr Speight would conduct an election campaign from the confines of a prison island is unclear.

One of his co-accused, Timoci Silatolu has also registered as a candidate.

Competition

If he is allowed to stand, Mr Speight will contest the election with the man he deposed and held at gunpoint for 56 days last year.

Former Prime Minister Chaudhry will lead the powerful Labour Party into the poll and has said he is confident of victory.

He will face opposition from Laisenia Qarase, an indigenous Fijian installed as caretaker prime minister by the military after the coup.

Twenty political parties have registered for the election, suggesting Fiji could be left with a weak, indecisive coalition government at a time when its battered economy and hard-pressed people need strong and stable leadership.