By Phil Mercer BBC correspondent in Sydney

Nata and Silatolu are the last of Speight's aides to be convicted

A court in Fiji has sentenced two men to life in prison after finding them guilty of treason for their part in a nationalist coup three years ago.

Journalist Joseph Nata and former politician Ratu Timoci Silatolu were key lieutenants to George Speight, a failed businessman who led the overthrow of the country's Indian-dominated government in May 2000.

Nata will serve a minimum of seven years in jail, and Silatolu nine years.

They both pleaded not guilty to charges of treason, and were warned by the trial judge that they could have been sentenced to death.

Joseph Nata had been George Speight's media advisor during the uprising three years ago.

Timoci Silatolu was a member of the coalition government deposed in the armed coup.

The court was told the former politician had co-ordinated the assault on parliament by George Speight and six special forces soldiers.

Indigenous rights row

Fiji's first ethnic Indian prime minister, Mahendra Chaudhry, was held hostage with members of his cabinet for 56 days.

The rebels have always insisted that Mr Chaudhry was ousted to protect the rights of native Fijians, which they claim were being eroded by the Indian-led administration.

There has been speculation, however, that Speight and his men were paid to storm parliament as part of a power struggle within the indigenous community.

Nata and Silatolu have already been in custody for almost three years.

They are the last of George Speight's close advisors to be convicted.

The former rebel leader himself pleaded guilty to treason last year. He was sentenced to death before his punishment was commuted to life in prison.

Speight has powerful friends in government, who are demanding he receive a presidential pardon.

The ultra-nationalist Conservative Alliance party is a key coalition partner in the administration of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase.

He is awaiting a Supreme Court ruling on the legality of his government.

Judges will decide if Mr Qarase should, as Fiji's constitution insists he must, include members of the Indian-dominated opposition in his cabinet.

But the prime minister has resisted calls to give his rivals position in government, claiming it would be unworkable.