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Bainimarama defends Fiji arrests | Bainimarama defends Fiji arrests |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Fiji's military leader has defended the recent arrests of 16 people over an alleged plot to assassinate him. | Fiji's military leader has defended the recent arrests of 16 people over an alleged plot to assassinate him. |
Commodore Frank Bainimarama said the Pacific Island nation would have faced instability and bloodshed if troops and police had not acted to defend him. | Commodore Frank Bainimarama said the Pacific Island nation would have faced instability and bloodshed if troops and police had not acted to defend him. |
Those arrested since the weekend include businessmen and politicians, as well as two New Zealand nationals. | Those arrested since the weekend include businessmen and politicians, as well as two New Zealand nationals. |
Ten people now face charges including conspiracy to murder and inciting mutiny, legal officials said. | |
The wave of arrests has drawn international concern, with New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark accusing Cmdr Bainimarama of trying to silence his critics. | The wave of arrests has drawn international concern, with New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark accusing Cmdr Bainimarama of trying to silence his critics. |
The military leader seized power in a bloodless coup in late 2006, ousting Laisenia Qarase's democratically elected government. He has pledged to hold polls in 2009. | The military leader seized power in a bloodless coup in late 2006, ousting Laisenia Qarase's democratically elected government. He has pledged to hold polls in 2009. |
'Serious unrest' | 'Serious unrest' |
Cmdr Bainimarama told reporters in the Fijian capital, Suva, that he felt "happy to be alive". | Cmdr Bainimarama told reporters in the Fijian capital, Suva, that he felt "happy to be alive". |
Police and the military had "uncovered a situation which, if not foiled, would have led to serious unrest, bloodshed and instability in Fiji", he said. | Police and the military had "uncovered a situation which, if not foiled, would have led to serious unrest, bloodshed and instability in Fiji", he said. |
No concrete details have been given about the alleged plot, but Cmdr Bainimarama earlier blamed it on "disgruntled groups" affected by his anti-corruption drive. | No concrete details have been given about the alleged plot, but Cmdr Bainimarama earlier blamed it on "disgruntled groups" affected by his anti-corruption drive. |
Ten of the accused appeared in Suva Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, and were remanded in custody without entering pleas. | |
During the proceedings, prosecutors agreed to drop a charge of treason. | |
As Cmdr Bainimarama's regime is still the subject of a legal challenge questioning its legitimacy to govern, it was decided that the treason charge could not apply. | |
Cmdr Bainimarama played down earlier comments by Fiji's police commissioner, Esala Teleni, pointing to the involvement of "foreign governments", saying he regretted "sensational reporting of this matter". | Cmdr Bainimarama played down earlier comments by Fiji's police commissioner, Esala Teleni, pointing to the involvement of "foreign governments", saying he regretted "sensational reporting of this matter". |
"At no time have we directly implicated Australia or New Zealand in this foiled assassination plot," he said. | "At no time have we directly implicated Australia or New Zealand in this foiled assassination plot," he said. |
Both New Zealand and Australia have dismissed the suggestion they were involved with the alleged plot. | Both New Zealand and Australia have dismissed the suggestion they were involved with the alleged plot. |
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer told reporters the allegations were "completely absurd", while Mrs Clark described the claims as "wild statements". | Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer told reporters the allegations were "completely absurd", while Mrs Clark described the claims as "wild statements". |
Mrs Clark, meanwhile, said that diplomats had received no access to the detained New Zealanders. | Mrs Clark, meanwhile, said that diplomats had received no access to the detained New Zealanders. |
Once of them, businessman Ballu Khan, was reported to have been badly beaten during his arrest. | Once of them, businessman Ballu Khan, was reported to have been badly beaten during his arrest. |
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