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| Fiji PM and military leader meet | |
| (about 18 hours later) | |
| Fiji's Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase has begun talks with his country's military leader Frank Bainimarama aimed at averting a possible coup. | |
| The two arch-rivals have been at loggerheads for months, but the crisis has recently escalated. | The two arch-rivals have been at loggerheads for months, but the crisis has recently escalated. |
| New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters is brokering the talks, which are being held in Wellington. | |
| Fiji's neighbours want to prevent another coup in the country - which has already had three in the past 20 years. | Fiji's neighbours want to prevent another coup in the country - which has already had three in the past 20 years. |
| The heart of the feud between the military and Mr Qarase's government lies in plans by the government to offer amnesties to those involved in a racially-motivated coup six years ago. | The heart of the feud between the military and Mr Qarase's government lies in plans by the government to offer amnesties to those involved in a racially-motivated coup six years ago. |
| The proposal is bitterly opposed by Cmdr Bainimarama, who was the main target of the mutiny, and was forced to flee for his life. | The proposal is bitterly opposed by Cmdr Bainimarama, who was the main target of the mutiny, and was forced to flee for his life. |
| In the past few months, Cmdr Bainimarama has accused the government of corruption and lying, and has repeatedly threatened to force Mr Qarase to resign. | In the past few months, Cmdr Bainimarama has accused the government of corruption and lying, and has repeatedly threatened to force Mr Qarase to resign. |
| The government tried to replace him at the end of October, but the military stood by their leader and the bid failed. | The government tried to replace him at the end of October, but the military stood by their leader and the bid failed. |
| Mr Qarase has now dropped the amnesty plans, but the situation has only escalated further. On Monday Cmdr Bainimarama issued Mr Qarase with a list of "non-negotiable demands", and threatened a government with a "clean-up" if it did not comply. | Mr Qarase has now dropped the amnesty plans, but the situation has only escalated further. On Monday Cmdr Bainimarama issued Mr Qarase with a list of "non-negotiable demands", and threatened a government with a "clean-up" if it did not comply. |
| Armed soldiers are patrolling the streets of the capital, Suva, and hundreds of reservists have been recalled for unscheduled exercises. | Armed soldiers are patrolling the streets of the capital, Suva, and hundreds of reservists have been recalled for unscheduled exercises. |
| Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said last week that he was concerned the military planned to topple the government in the next couple of weeks. | Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said last week that he was concerned the military planned to topple the government in the next couple of weeks. |
| Cmdr Bainimarama is currently in the New Zealand capital of Wellington on a private visit, and was due to return to Fiji on Tuesday. | Cmdr Bainimarama is currently in the New Zealand capital of Wellington on a private visit, and was due to return to Fiji on Tuesday. |
| But he reportedly decided to delay his departure after New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters persuaded him to try to reach a diplomatic settlement with Mr Qarase. | But he reportedly decided to delay his departure after New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters persuaded him to try to reach a diplomatic settlement with Mr Qarase. |
| "I have always said that I am ready to meet directly with Commodore Bainimarama, and to do so with an open mind," Mr Qarase told reporters before he left for Wellington. | "I have always said that I am ready to meet directly with Commodore Bainimarama, and to do so with an open mind," Mr Qarase told reporters before he left for Wellington. |
| "I am ready to listen to the commander on the concerns of the military," he added. | "I am ready to listen to the commander on the concerns of the military," he added. |
| Regional concern | Regional concern |
| Countries in the region are anxious to prevent another coup from taking place. | Countries in the region are anxious to prevent another coup from taking place. |
| "New Zealand has been concerned for some time at the escalating tensions between the Fijian government and military," Mr Peters said in a joint statement with New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark. | "New Zealand has been concerned for some time at the escalating tensions between the Fijian government and military," Mr Peters said in a joint statement with New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark. |
| Australia is gathering foreign ministers from across the Pacific for talks on the crisis later this week. | Australia is gathering foreign ministers from across the Pacific for talks on the crisis later this week. |
| "I hope that this meeting will make a useful contribution, but I still remain fairly pessimistic on the basis of what we know about Commodore Bainimarama's plans and preparations," said Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer. | "I hope that this meeting will make a useful contribution, but I still remain fairly pessimistic on the basis of what we know about Commodore Bainimarama's plans and preparations," said Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer. |
| Both Australia and New Zealand have warned their citizens to avoid travelling to Fiji, and Australia has naval ships in the area, ready to evacuate people if necessary. | Both Australia and New Zealand have warned their citizens to avoid travelling to Fiji, and Australia has naval ships in the area, ready to evacuate people if necessary. |