Rabuka 'suspect' in Fiji mutiny

Fiji remains extremely unstable after May's coup

Fiji's former prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka is reported to be under investigation for alleged involvement in the mutiny at a military barracks on Thursday.

Local media and Mr Rabuka, who led two coups in 1987, say he has been banned from all barracks as result. The government has refused to confirm this.

The revolt left eight people dead and more than 30 injured.

A soldier injured in the mutiny

The authorities say it was an ill-planned attempt to assassinate armed forces chief Commodore Frank Bainimarama.

Abolish military unit

It is reported that Commander Bainimarama planned to abolish the Counter Revolutionary Warfare (CRW) special forces unit whose members had played a key role in George Speight's seizure of parliament on 19 May.

The government of prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry were held hostage for months before being released. Under the terms of the deal to end the coup, his government stood down.

Mr Speight was subsequently earrested and is imprisoned pending trial on treason charges.

Sitiveni Rabuka has been told to stay away from the military

Sitiveni Rabuka, prime minister until last year, acted as a negotiator with rebel special forces soldiers during bloody gunbattles on Thursday.

The military says he was stopped at a checkpoint after he left the Queen Elizabeth Barracks and one of the alleged ringleaders of the mutiny was found in his car.

"I am aware that I am not allowed into military premises, and this could mean that I am a suspect," Mr Rabuka said. He denied any involvement in the mutiny.