Never again must we allow the pain and trauma that we all suffered last year to recur

President Josefa Iloilo

A court on Monday rejected his bid to be released on bail to take up his seat.

The coalition government is dominated by the nationalist Fijian United Party of the Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase, but he faces a legal challenge from Mr Chaudhry, who says the constitution guarantees cabinet seats for his Labour Party.

Coup leader George Speight remains in prison

Mr Qarase's exclusion of the Indian-dominated Labour Party (FLP) from his coalition is in defiance of the constitution, which says any party with eight or more seats is entitled to cabinet positions.

Mr Qarase's Nationalist party won 31 seats in the recent general election, the Labour party was only four behind with 27 seats.

The prime minister defended his decision by saying his rival's proposals would have led to an unworkable government.

President's address

Opening parliament, President Josefa Iloilo attacked those who had called for international sanctions to be imposed during last year's coup crisis.

Thousands Fijians were adversely affected "not because of punitive actions against Fiji by other states or their governments, but through trade related sanctions imposed by overseas organisations at the instigation of some of our own people," he said.

Mahendra Chaudhry says he will take his case to court

Correspondents say Mr Chaudhry's Labour Party and trade union activists were at the forefront of those calling for sanctions at the time.

"This clearly was not a demonstration of love for our country, or of faith in our own system of rendering justice," President Iloilo said.

Sanctions imposed by Australia and New Zealand are still in place.

The president also condemned the coup as an "illegal... removal of a democratically-elected government".

"Never again must we allow the pain and trauma that we all suffered last year to recur," he said.

In May 2000, gunmen led by George Speight deposed Mr Chaudhry and laid siege to the nation's parliament, demanding a decisive governmental role for ethnic Fijians.

His Conservative Alliance Matanitu Vanua (MV) nationalist group won six seats in the election.