This followed a Court of Appeal ruling Thursday, which overturned a High Court ruling that Tarakinikini had resigned his post.

During George Speights 2000 coup that bought down Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, Tarakinikini became internationally recognised as the martial law spokesman.

He lost his post later in 2000 amidst vague allegations that he was involved in the coup and a military mutiny in November 2000.

He was given clearance and took up a post with the United Nations Peacekeeping Office in New York but last year military commander Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama ordered him home to face further investigation.

Tarakinikini instead resigned and refused to come home, and last year won court action saying his resignation was legal.

The military appealed and in a ruling the Court of Appeal quashed the lower court ruling and effectively declared Tarakinikini absent without leave.

The Fiji Daily Post quoted unnamed military sources saying Fiji would now seek the extradition of Tarakinikini to face desertion charges.

The Fiji Sun said the military were undecided what to do, quoting a military source as saying Bainimarama had yet to be briefed.

"It involves a lot of process to get Tarakinikini back to Fiji," the source told the Sun.

"Everything is very blurry and we have to look at all sides before a decision is made. Even if the judiciary has made its ruling the military is undecided on what action to take."

WAR.WIRE