Shooting breaks out at Fiji military barracks

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SHOOTING BREAKS OUT AT MILITARY BARRACKS

Staff Reporters USP's Pacific Journalism Online

SUVA: One soldier was shot and wounded today in a shootout at the Fiji military headquarters, according to local radio reports.

Radio FM 96 reported that shooting began about 1 pm at Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Nabua, and was continuing this afternoon.

The wounded soldier was shot in the lower body and was taken to hospital.

The radio station reported that rebel soldiers from the Counter Revolutionary Warfare unit were believed to have opened fire in the barracks.

The soldiers had been released on bail last week on court martial charges over their alleged role in the May 19 seizure of Parliament and holding of the elected government hostage for 56 days.

Coup leader George Speight and some of his fellow alleged plotters are being detained on treason charges at a makeshift prison on Nukulau island off the coast of Suva.

There have been rumours in Fiji for weeks of a major split within the military and possible further coup attempt.

Three media staff employed by the state-owned Radio Fiji were detained by troops on October 20 over a broadcast report about unrest in the military.

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