27 Mar 2003

Another 18 Fiji soldiers have been arrested on coup related charges

10:16 am on 27 March 2003

Fiji's military has arrested another 18 soldiers for their role in the coup.

They will be court martialled in May.

The soldiers are part of the army's engineering corps who marched into parliament in support of the coup eight days after the overthrow of the Chaudhry government.

They were led by Major Josefa Savua, brother of the former police commissioner, Col Isikia Savua, now Fiji's ambassador to the United Nations, who is himself under investigation for being part of the coup.

The military spokesman, Warrant Officer Neumi Leweni, says the eighteen are under close arrest at the army camp in Suva awaiting trial.

Fiji TV quotes him as saying the army's investigations are ongoing and all those involved in the coup will face court martial regardless of attempts from outside to influence their work.