18 Nov 2006

Fiji government minister says military commander is a terrorist

9:11 am on 18 November 2006

A Fiji government minister has described the country's military commander, Commodore Bainimarama, as a terrorist.

The minister of state for provincial development, Ted Young, has told parliament this new terrorist is threatening the economy, threatening law and order and even threatening parliamentary democracy.

Mr Young said Commodore Bainimarama is a disgrace to the military, adding that "it's time to cut off the monster's head."

He also urged soldiers in the military not to obey unlawful orders.

But a Labour Party MP, Vyas Deo Sharma, told parliament he had a question for the police on whether they would charge the prime minister, Laisenia Qarase, for inciting mutiny.

Mr Sharma said this was because the prime minister had colluded with a subordinate officer to overthrow Commodore Bainimarama while he was out of the country earlier this month.