James Speight: Legal experts say it is unlikely he will serve full three-year sentence

The men were separated into three groups by Justice Michael Scott according to their degree of involvement in the coup of May 2000.

Three key figures, Ilisoni Ligairi, a former special forces soldier with Britain's SAS; army major Josefa Savua; and James Speight, the brother of rebel leader George Speight, were given three-year jail terms.

The other defendants were sentenced to between 18 months and two years behind bars. Legal experts believe it is unlikely any will serve the full term.

Plea bargain

All 10 had pleaded guilty to wrongfully confining Mahendra Chaudhry, the first Indo-Fijian prime minister and members of his multi-racial government.

Charges of treason were dropped as part of a plea bargain worked out by defence lawyers. It saw George Speight plead guilty and take almost sole responsibility for the uprising.

The conviction of the 10 men leaves two members of Speight's nationalist gang still charged with treason and awaiting trial:

• Josefa Nata, who acted as a media liaison during the 56-day hostage standoff

• politician Ratu Timoci Silatolu.

They have not yet entered a plea and their cases have been adjourned until mid-March.

George Speight, sentenced to hang on Monday, is beginning a life sentence in prison after Fiji's President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo, granted the failed businessman clemency.

There is nothing in the constitution to stop President Iloilo issuing an unconditional pardon in the future.