Fijian hero to be honoured with a statue

A Fijian hero of the SAS is to be honoured with a statue, in a stinging rebuke to the racists of the British National Party.

According to the UK newspaper, The Sun, a lasting monument to legendary Sergeant Talaiasi Labalaba will be unveiled at the elite force's Hereford Headquarters.

The British military top brass hailed fearless Labalaba as one of the Who Dares Wins regiment's greatest heroes for actions which cost him his life during a battle with Communist rebels in Oman in 1972.

Last night General The Lord Guthrie, former Head of the Armed Forces and Colonel Commandant of the SAS, praised Labalaba's selfless example as he attacked the BNP.

Lord Guthrie accused the BNP of wanting an "all-white British Army" which did not have any heroes like Labalaba.

He said Sergeant Labalaba was part of a unit pinned down by an overwhelming force of guerrillas inside a fort. As they came under a hail of fire, Labalaba raced 800 metres to take control of a 25-pounder artillery gun which normally needed a three-man crew to operate.

Despite being shot in the face, he repeatedly fired the gun into the waves of the attacking enemy. Two other soldiers who ran to help him were also hit and, as Labalaba grabbed for a mortar, he was shot in the neck and fell dead.

Sergeant Labalaba's statue will be unveiled on the eve of Remembrance Sunday next month.