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| Fiji detains 16 alleged plotters | Fiji detains 16 alleged plotters |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Police in Fiji have arrested 16 people in the past two days, after uncovering an alleged plot against the country's military leader, Frank Bainimarama. | Police in Fiji have arrested 16 people in the past two days, after uncovering an alleged plot against the country's military leader, Frank Bainimarama. |
| Businessmen, politicians and former soldiers were among those detained, and will be charged, police say, on Monday. | Businessmen, politicians and former soldiers were among those detained, and will be charged, police say, on Monday. |
| New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark said one of those arrested, a New Zealander, had been badly beaten. | New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark said one of those arrested, a New Zealander, had been badly beaten. |
| Mr Bainimarama came to power after a bloodless coup in December 2006, but has promised elections in early 2009. | Mr Bainimarama came to power after a bloodless coup in December 2006, but has promised elections in early 2009. |
| He has pledged to abide by the results. | He has pledged to abide by the results. |
| Fiji has seen four coups in the past two decades. | Fiji has seen four coups in the past two decades. |
| Military help | Military help |
| No concrete details have been given about the alleged plot, but Fiji Police Commissioner Esala Teleni said "several suspects and others are believed to be armed". | No concrete details have been given about the alleged plot, but Fiji Police Commissioner Esala Teleni said "several suspects and others are believed to be armed". |
| He said more arrests were possible, adding that the police has requested the assistance of the military. | He said more arrests were possible, adding that the police has requested the assistance of the military. |
| He added that cabinet ministers and military officers were also being targeted by the plotters. | He added that cabinet ministers and military officers were also being targeted by the plotters. |
| A New Zealand businessman, Ballu Khan, who is based in the Fijian capital, Suva, was among those arrested. | A New Zealand businessman, Ballu Khan, who is based in the Fijian capital, Suva, was among those arrested. |
| He was allegedly so badly beaten that he was unable to talk, and a hospital source quoted by Reuters news agency said he had a broken jaw and ribs. | He was allegedly so badly beaten that he was unable to talk, and a hospital source quoted by Reuters news agency said he had a broken jaw and ribs. |
| New Zealand diplomats had difficulty in obtaining access to Mr Khan. | New Zealand diplomats had difficulty in obtaining access to Mr Khan. |
| "They held this man back from proper health care in a hospital for far too long and they beat him when he was in custody. That is disgraceful," said the New Zealand prime minister. | "They held this man back from proper health care in a hospital for far too long and they beat him when he was in custody. That is disgraceful," said the New Zealand prime minister. |