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Frank Bainimarama - Source: ONE News -
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Fiji's military ruler Frank Bainimarama has dismissed as "wild allegations" claims that his regime was behind a string of violent vandal attacks across the capital.
The homes and cars of six high-profile pro-democracy Fijians have been targeted with rocks and unlit molotov cocktails in overnight attacks over the past two months.
All the victims, including the editor of the country's biggest newspaper, the Fiji Times, had publicly questioned the legitimacy of the current regime, which took control after overthrowing a democratically-elected government in December 2006.
Speculation was increasing that the interim government was connected to the attacks because it had failed to condemn them.
Bainimarama spoke up for the first time on the topic on Wednesday, telling journalists "those are wild allegations".
"The government does not condone these attacks," he told the Fiji Times.
"The government denounces these attacks. We will do everything within our power to see that those involved are brought to justice."
But pressure on pro-democracy voices in Fiji continues, with a leading military figure attacking the national media, saying the Fiji Times should be forcibly closed.
"The Fiji Times in particular is the most non-cooperative and biased newspaper in the country," Republic of Fiji Military Forces' Land Force Commander Pita Driti said in a statement.
"This news agency should be closed down immediately."
Press freedom has been under attack since the coup, with three Australian newspaper men forcibly removed from the country in the past year by government officials.
