Friday, May 12, 2006

Former Fijian PM appears in court for mutiny

Ex-Fiji Prime Minster Sitiveni Rabuka appeared in Suva court today for charges of incitement to mutiny.

Rabuka led the 1987 military coup and was later elected Prime Minister. It was Rabuka's new constitution that allowed the election of Fiji's first ethnic Indian leader, Mahendra Choudhury.

However, Choudhury's ascent was quickly followed by another "civilian" coup led by George Speight, who is now serving a life sentence.

The former prime minister appeared in good spirits at court where he joked with reporters. He had just recently returned a visit to India for knee surgery.

Hearings occur in the midst of parliamentary voting that ends Saturday.