Fiji's coup leader George Speight and 14 others have been charged with
treason and conspiracy to commit treason.
All have been remanded in custody till August 25.
The charges relate to the military takeover of Fiji's Parliament on the May
19 and other events stretching into July.
George Speight and his fellow accused were brought to the Suva
Magistrates Court very late in the day.
They had hopes of winning bail but that sentiment was quickly dashed with
the prosecution introducing three new charges.
Those of treason, conspiracy to commit treason and being accessories to
treason.
The treason charge in theory carries the death penalty and the other
charges have a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Bail for Speight and his colleagues was denied.
Fiji's deposed prime minister, Mahendra Chaudry, says the prosecution of
coup leader George Speight will solve nothing.
Mr Speight and 14 of his followers were charged yesterday with treason
and conspiracy over the coup they staged in May.
But Mr Chaudry has told a mainly Indo-Fijian audience in Sydney the real
coup leaders include people in Fiji's interim cabinet.
He says the international community should not allow these people to
evade their responsibility for the destruction of democracy.
"Let them not patch it up by saying we've done this, we've charged
George Speight with treason, no that's not solving anything," he said.
"There are others who should be charged with treason and until they are
brought to trial Fiji's not safe."
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