The US Department of State has released its 2008 Human Rights Report on Fiji which stated that the interim government breached several human rights principles since coming into power in 2006.

The report stated that the interim government denied citizens the right to change their government peacefully also alleging the judiciary was subject to political interference.

The report also said the interim government engaged in intimidation of the media and restricted the right to assemble peacefully.

Other problems highlighted during the year included poor prison conditions, attacks against religious facilities, government corruption, deep ethnic divisions, violence and discrimination against women, and sexual exploitation of children.

The report stated while the interim government or its agents did not commit any politically motivated killings, however security forces were implicated which is a breach of Section 1 on the Respect For Human Rights, where it stated Respect for the Integrity of the Person, including Freedom from Arbitrary or Unlawful Deprivation of Life.

One of the cases highlighted involving security forces, was that of Josefa Baleiloa, where police and prison officers beat him while they were recapturing him.

Baleiloa fell into a coma as a result and died on September 16.

The Police Commissioner announced that an investigation would be undertaken, but there were no results by year's end.

It also stated that on April 23rd, the High Court convicted three police officers of the murder of Tevita Malasebe, who died in police custody in June 2007, and sentenced them to life imprisonment.

Five additional defendants were acquitted.

Trials for military police officers charged in the deaths of Nimilote Verebasaga in January 2007 and Sakiusa Rabaka in February 2007 remains pending.

The report said while the constitution prohibits torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading practices, the military in some cases while assisting FICAC investigate allegations of corruption, allegedly assaulted civilians to obtain evidence.

It stated also that by the end of last year there had not been any government investigation into the reports, including skull fractures, sustained by businessman Ballu Khan during his November 2007 arrest for allegedly planning to assassinate Interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama.

Interim Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum is expected to comment later.