8 Mar 2011

Fiji army chief says Commodore Bainimarama has full backing of the military

8:04 pm on 8 March 2011

A Fiji military spokesman says the force's commander Commodore Frank Bainimarama has the full support of the military.

Land Force Commander Colonel Mosese Tikoitoga was responding to recent speculation about a split in the ranks of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, or RFMF.

He says talk resurfaces regularly but the situation remains the same.

"Everybody's in support of Commander RFMF and everybody supports the course that the Commander RFMF is taking and we are working with him to ensure that we complete the task that we set ourselves to do."

Colonel Mosese Tikoitoga says two senior military officers Brigadier-General Pita Driti and Lieutenant-Colonel Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara remain on leave.

The pair haven't been on duty since last October.