SUVA (Radio NZ National/Pacific Media Watch): Two senior military officers in Fiji are taking extended leave, but the government in Suva is dismissing [blog] reports they have been suspended.
Radio Fiji reports the officers taking long holidays are Land Force Commander, Brigadier General Pita Driti and Lieutenant Colonel Roko Tevita Uluilakeba Mara.
It quotes Commodore Frank Bainimarama as saying the two have been told to take holiday as they have accumulated substantial amount of leave days over the years.
Late last year, there were moves to send General Driti to head Fiji's contingent of troops working for the United Nations in Iraq, but he was rejected for the position, with the UN citing accusations of human rights abuses.
The army took power in an army coup in December 2006. It was the fourth coup in Fiji since 1987. Commodore Frank Bainimarama subsequently declared himself interim prime minister. - Radio NZ National/Pacific Media Watch
Pacific Media Watch
