By Phil Mercer BBC correspondent in Sydney

Seniloli is charged with treason and sedition over his role in the coup

Fiji's vice president has been charged with treason for his alleged role in a nationalist coup three years ago.

Ratu Jope Seniloli faces the death penalty if convicted.

He has appeared in court in the capital, Suva, and is the most senior figure to face charges over the uprising.

It was led by George Speight, a failed businessman who was found guilty of treason last year and is serving a life sentence.

Ratu Jope Seniloli was appointed president by Speight when the former rebel leader was assembling an illegal administration after storming Fiji's parliaments and holding members of the elected government at gunpoint.

Death penalty unlikely

After a stand-off that lasted for 56 days, the hostages were set free and Ratu Seniloli was sworn in as vice president by the country's indigenous leaders, despite his associations with the nationalist rebels.

He has been charged with treason and sedition.

Both are capital offences in Fiji, although, if convicted, the vice president and four other co-accused, including a government minister, would be unlikely to face the death penalty.

The defendants have not entered a plea and are due back in court in a month's time.

Political uncertainty

Speight was jailed for life for his part in the coup in May 2000.

A judge ordered that he be hanged for treason but his sentence was commuted.

Speight's gunmen deposed Fiji's first ethnic Indian Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry.

The political uncertainty the uprising caused has continued.

Next month Mr Chaudhry, who heads the Fiji Labour Party, will question the legality of the current government in the country's Supreme Court.