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| Fiji talks 'fail to end crisis' | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Talks between Fiji PM Laisenia Qarase and military chief Frank Bainimarama aimed at averting a military coup have ended with no sign of agreement. | |
| Both men left the meeting, in the New Zealand capital, Wellington, looking sombre and declining to comment. | |
| 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. |
| Commodore Bainimarama has repeatedly threatened to overthrow the government, accusing it of corruption and lying. | |
| Mr Qarase said before the meeting that he was ready to listen to the army's concerns, but added that some of the military's demands could threaten democracy. | |
| 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. |
| Amnesties | |
| The talks last about two hours, and ended with Cmdr Bainimarama driving away to catch a flight back to Fiji. | |
| The military leader had said he would not negotiate with Mr Qarase. | |
| "It's very simple. He comes with a 'yes' or a 'no' to ourdemands, full stop," he told New Zealand radio before the meeting. | |
| But Mr Qarase said on Wednesday he hoped some of the military's demands would be dropped, as they were a "threat to our democracy". | |
| 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 had been in Wellington on a private visit, but 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. | |
| 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. |
| 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. |