Fiji pursues last rebels

Rebels still make their presence felt on Vanua Levu

Fiji's military is pushing ahead with a crackdown on armed rebels after the appearance in court on Saturday of their leader, George Speight.

A military spokesman, Major Howard Politini, said a joint army and police operation was underway on the island of Vanua Levu to find a handful of men who had so far avoided arrest.

Vanua Levu is Fiji's second biggest island, and contains the last pockets of hardcore support for Mr Speight, who seized the country's prime minister and other members of the government in May, and held them hostage for eight weeks.

Mr Speight and 12 of his supporters are now being held on a prison island near the capital, Suva, where they have received their first visitors.

Stolen weapons

At his court appearance, the rebel leader pleaded not guilty to firearms and public order offences, and prosecutors say he is likely to be charged with treason - a capital offence.

The navy takes relatives to visit rebels on their prison island

Major Politini said the security situation across the country was now better than at any time since the government of Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry was deposed nearly three months ago.

According to the military, the few remaining rebels hiding in thick bushland on Vanua Levu are carrying 27 weapons stolen from the army, including semi-automatic rifles and pistols.

State prosecutors say that the amnesty extended to the rebels was conditional on the return of all stolen weapons, and is therefore null and void.

They have also argued that the agreement which ended the rebels' siege of the Fijian parliament was signed under duress by the army commander, Commodore Frank Bainimarama.

Bail request

The rebels' lawyer has said be believes the amnesty still stands and plans to return to court on Friday to ask again for their release on bail.

The rebels said they were standing up for the rights of indigenous Fijians when they stormed parliament and seized Mr Chaudhry, the country's first ethnic Indian prime minister.

Rebels charged with minor offences have been released on bail

Prosecutors say a charge of treason may be brought against the rebel leader on the basis of allegations that Mr Speight made death threats against President Josepha Ilowillow.

Heavy security surrounded the court for Saturday's hearing, and about 1,000 people gathered outside singing hymns.

Mr Speight did not look at the media and made no comment as he was escorted from the bus and taken into the court cells, his usually shaven head covered in stubble.

Just in front of him, wearing a white bandage swathed around his head, was his military adviser, Ilisoni Ligairi.

About 150 more of Mr Speight's supporters have been charged with unlawful assembly, which carries a maximum penalty of one year's imprisonment.