11 rebel soldiers captured by Fiji military

1:00 PM

SUVA - Fiji troops captured 11 rebel soldiers this morning and are hunting another nine as authorities extend a curfew in Suva following an attempted mutiny in which nine soldiers were killed.

The 11 rebel soldiers, members of a special forces unit which backed a May coup, were captured at daybreak hiding in dense bush around Suva's main army barracks, a military spokesman said.

"We have arrested 11 people after a raid early this morning and are continuing to look for more rebel soldiers believed to be in the Suva area," said Major Howard Politini.

Politini said another nine rebels were still at large after soldiers loyal to Fiji's military commander, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, regained control of the Queen Elizabeth Barracks in a fierce gunbattle on Thursday.

Reports this morning indicate the commander, who comes from Fiji's navy and has struggled to win the full support of the of the armed forces, had retained control of the army.

The casualty toll stands at nine soldiers dead - five rebels and four regular soldiers - and 28 wounded.

Several civilians were among the wounded, hit by stray bullets, Politini said.

Fijian authorities extended a curfew on the capital Suva to help the army hunt for rebel troops.

"We thought it best to just keep the population off the streets today so we might continue (the hunt) unhindered," Politini said.

Fiji's home affairs ministry announced at 3 am on Friday (4 am NZ time) that an overnight curfew in Suva was being extended, with no break in daylight hours, until 6 a.m. on Saturday (7 am NZT).

The rest of Fiji was reported to be quiet - including the key town of Labasa on the island of Vanua Levu, where landowners and some military men joined the May revolt.

- REUTERS