Fiji Army crushes mutiny

Fiji Army soldiers last night stormed the country's military headquarters to crush a mutiny by elite rebel soldiers that left at least two dead and 10 injured.

Troops loyal to military commander Frank Bainimarama launched a full-blown assault on the Queen Elizabeth Barracks, on the outskirts of Suva, after the troubled nation's interim cabinet gave the go-ahead for a counter-attack.

The rebels - members of the Counter Revolutionary Warfare (CRW) unit, which supported George Speight in the May coup - had reportedly been holding several officers hostage after exchanging gunfire with regular force troops throughout the day.

A woman officer and two civilians were injured in the attack.

Former Prime Minister Major-General Sitiveni Rabuka braved the gunfire and was last night at the battle scene, offering to play the role of negotiator to end the crisis in the Army he once commanded.

He said the violence was an internal battle within the Army rather than a coup and was possibly sparked by dissatisfaction with the Army command.

"It could get worse and it could get better. We'll just have to wait and see in the next 24 hours."

Military spokesman Howard Politini said late last night that the Army had regained control of the barracks, with most of the 40 or 50 mutineers behind bars.

But about 20 had escaped and Suva residents were asked to stay indoors. "They are armed and considered dangerous," he said.

There was a curfew on the streets of Suva.

Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase told the nation on television: "You have my word justice will be done."

Earlier, Commodore Bainimarama reportedly only just managed to escape from the barracks. His bodyguard was injured in the initial attack.

Last night, he was believed to be at the Walu Bay Naval Base under armed guard.

The fighting broke out at 2 pm (NZT) when members of the CRW attempted a mutiny and demanded negotiations with senior officers.

Heavy gunfire and explosions were heard at the barracks in the afternoon and residents said they could feel the ground shake.

The 3rd Infantry Regiment was outside on exercises and rushed back on hearing of the mutiny. Some in full battle gear went in through the gates and soon after another burst of shooting began.

The mutiny came two weeks after eight members of the CRW who took part in the May coup were released from custody when treason charges against them were dropped.

But Commander Bainimarama was reportedly planning to purge the Army of coup supporters.

NZ Foreign Minister Phil Goff said the fighting was sparked by an investigation by Commander Bainimarama into 150 personnel believed to have helped Speight.

"Those people clearly felt they were under threat. The members of the CRW probably felt they had nothing to lose."

They had tried to stage a coup and remove Commander Bainimarama, release Speight from his island prison and end the military inquiry.

There was some suspicion that the rebels wanted to install as military commander Lieutenant-Colonel Filipo Tarakinikini, chief spokesman for the the military after the May coup, who is under investigation for having links to Speight.