Death sentence for Fiji coup leader

SUVA, Fiji -- Fiji coup leader George Speight has been sentenced to death by the High Court in Suva after pleading guilty to a charge of treason.

"It is the sentence of this court that you be taken from this court to a prison and then to a place of execution where you will be hanged," High Court Judge Michael Scott said, according to wire reports.

"And may the Lord have mercy on you," Scott said.

Speight's Australian lawyers have sent a petition to Fijian President Ratu Josefa Iloilo, the attorney general, and two other independent advisors who will form a commission to decide whether to let the death sentence stand or impose another punishment.

Negotiations were continuing Monday at a government building near the high court. A resolution was not expected until later in the week.

In their letter to the commission, Speight's attorneys argued that an early guilty plea should allow Speight a more lenient sentence. They also said he acted as a virtual scapegoat for the actions of his followers.

The lawyers also argued that treason is no longer a crime that is punishable by death in Fiji. Just last week, the country's cabinet approved the abolition of the death penalty, but the measure has yet to win the support of the parliament.

Speight led an armed assault on Fiji's parliament in May 2000 and overthrew ethnic Indian prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry.

On hearing Monday's sentence Speight broke down and cried, although his lawyer said later he expected the sentence to be commuted to life in prison.

Late last week, the government of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase began moves to abolish capital punishment, saying the move was in response to pressure from human rights groups such as Amnesty International.

Capital punishment has not been used in Fiji since the mid 1960s.

Speight's lawyer told the court earlier Monday his guilty plea "will save a significant amount of judicial time," Reuters reports.

"This will be recognized as our contribution to the stability of this country and reconciliation," he said.

Speight and seven armed supporters took control of parliament in May 2000, toppling Chaudhry's Labor government saying the interests of ethnic Fijians were not being sufficiently represented.

A seige of the parliament lasted 56 days with most of the multi-racial cabinet held hostage, martial law was declared and the constitution was suspended.

Ethnic Indians make up about 44 percent of Fiji's 800,000 population but they control much of the island nation's commercial business, while ethnic Fijians are the vast bulk of the landowners.

Security for Speight's trial in Suva was tight Monday with roadblocks on the three main entry points to the city.

Speight still commands considerable support in Fiji, winning a seat in parliament in the nation's elections last September.

Police and the Fijian military will now be on heightened alert for protest action and possible violence from Speight supporters following the court's decision.