25 Oct 2010

Fiji interim leader appoints replacement officers to head military

8:17 pm on 25 October 2010

The interim Fiji prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, has appointed Colonel Mosese Tikoitoga and Major Amani Suliano to take over as Land Force commander and 3rd Fiji Infantry Regiment commander respectively.

This comes after Brigadier Pita Driti and the former commander of the infantry regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara, were sent on extended leave.

The Government information office has maintained that the officers are taking accumulated leave but Fiji Live quotes Commodore Bainimarama announcing the new appointments.

He has dismissed media reports saying the officers had been dumped because of questions over their allegiance to him.