15 Jan 2016

Fiji peacekeepers to use Russian arms

4:40 pm on 15 January 2016

The Fiji military says equipment which arrived from Russia yesterday will be used to better equip the country's peacekeepers abroad.

20 containers arrived at Suva harbour and were taken under heavy security to the Queen Elizabeth Barracks.

The Fiji Sun reports the consignment includes Russian arms and two mobile mechanical workshops to be used in disasters.

The military's Acting Commander, Rear Adminral Viliame Naupoto, says custom officers would inspect the shipment today.

The opposition says the transaction is illegal as it did not go through parliament for approval.

It also alleged that police were barred from providing security which was given to a contracted private firm.

A Fijian UN peacekeeper looks through binoculars at an Israeli post from the Al-Labbouneh hill near Naqoura on the Mediterranean coast 30 July 2000 where fifty Fijian troops took up position.

Fijian UN Peacekeepers have served all over the world. Here, one of fifty Fijian troops posted on the Mediterranean coast looks through binoculars at an Israeli post. Photo: AFP/Ramzi Haidar