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Fiji army takes over police base Fiji army moves to control Suva
(about 2 hours later)
Fijian soldiers have taken over the headquarters of the country's only armed police unit, fuelling speculation of an imminent military coup. Fiji's military has moved to take control of the capital, Suva, amid speculation an army coup was imminent.
Soldiers removed weapons belonging to police, and have also set up roadblocks around the capital Suva. Troops disarmed the police and ministerial bodyguards and set up roadblocks around Suva.
Military chief Cmdr Frank Bainimarama said the move was to ensure there would be no violence between the two forces. Military chief Cmdr Frank Bainimarama refused to say if a coup was under way but said the moves were aimed at preventing any outbreak of violence.
The army has threatened to unseat PM Laisenia Qarase over plans to grant amnesty to those behind a coup in 2000. He has repeatedly threatened to unseat PM Laisenia Qarase over plans to grant amnesty to those behind a coup in 2000.
Cmdr Bainimarama originally gave the government until last Friday to resign or face Fiji's fourth army takeover in two decades. Disarmed
The coup did not take place - but in a TV interview at the weekend he said he expected Mr Qarase to "give in peacefully" and leave office on Monday. Truckloads of heavily-armed soldiers were seen leaving the army's barracks in Suva.
However, Mr Qarase was standing firm, telling Fiji radio on Monday he remained in charge. They were putting up roadblocks around the capital during the night, and had reportedly cut off several roads into the city.
Loading weapons
Cmdr Bainimarama refused to say if a coup was underway. "I don't have any comments right now," he said when asked who was running the country.
He told reporters his troops had taken weapons off the police "to ensure that police weapons are not used against the military".
FIJI TENSIONS TIMELINE 2000 Brief coup put down by army chief Bainimarama12 July 2005 Cmdr Bainimarama warns he will topple government if it pardons jailed coup plotters13 July 2005 PM Laisenia Qarase says he will review law pardoning plotters17 May 2006 Mr Qarase wins re-election31 Oct Mr Qarase tries - and fails - to replace Cmdr Bainimarama as army chief4 November Mr Qarase says he will change law offering clemency to coup plotters7 November Military calls for police chief to quit30 November Mr Qarase offers "concessions" after meeting Cmdr Bainimarama30 November Cmdr Bainimarama warns of coup if demands not met1 December Deadline set for possible coup passes without incident In pictures: Coup countdownFIJI TENSIONS TIMELINE 2000 Brief coup put down by army chief Bainimarama12 July 2005 Cmdr Bainimarama warns he will topple government if it pardons jailed coup plotters13 July 2005 PM Laisenia Qarase says he will review law pardoning plotters17 May 2006 Mr Qarase wins re-election31 Oct Mr Qarase tries - and fails - to replace Cmdr Bainimarama as army chief4 November Mr Qarase says he will change law offering clemency to coup plotters7 November Military calls for police chief to quit30 November Mr Qarase offers "concessions" after meeting Cmdr Bainimarama30 November Cmdr Bainimarama warns of coup if demands not met1 December Deadline set for possible coup passes without incident In pictures: Coup countdown
"The police and the (military) will work together to ensure the security and safety of all the people of Fiji," he went on. Earlier, troops arrived at the headquarters of the country's only armed police unit, the Tactical Response Unit, outside Suva.
Troops arrived at the headquarters of the police's Tactical Response Unit outside the capital, Suva, early on Monday. They loaded weapons belonging to police on to army trucks and took them away.
Soldiers then loaded weapons belonging to police on to army trucks. Troops also went to a police armoury in the city to remove more weapons.
"The army asked to examine what weapons this unit has. It is not violent," assistant police commissioner Moses Driver told Fiji radio. Bodyguards for the prime minister and other ministers were also disarmed.
Heavily-armed troops were also reported to be setting up roadblocks around the capital Suva. Cmdr Bainimarama told reporters his troops had taken weapons off the police "to ensure that police weapons are not used against the military".
They had cut off several roads entering the city and were guarding the president's residence, a Reuters news agency witness said. But he insisted the police still had a role to play. "The police and the (military) will work together to ensure the security and safety of all the people of Fiji," he said in a brief statement.
Earlier, bodyguards for the prime minister and other ministers were disarmed. The move was called "unlawful and unnecessary" by acting police commissioner Moses Driver.
Cmdr Bainimarama gave no indication whether a coup was under way during his statement to reporters, despite local media reports that he has drawn up a 13-member interim cabinet.
When asked who was running the country, he replied: "I don't have any comments right now".
He originally gave the government until last Friday to resign or face Fiji's fourth army takeover in two decades.
In a TV interview at the weekend, he said he expected the prime minister to "give in peacefully" and leave office on Monday.
Prime Minister Qarase remained defiant on Monday, insisting he was still in charge. He said he had called a special cabinet meeting on Tuesday to consider Cmdr Bainimarama's "latest and ever-changing demands".
Ongoing feudOngoing feud
Australia and New Zealand have warned of dire economic and social consequences if the military deposes Fiji's elected government.Australia and New Zealand have warned of dire economic and social consequences if the military deposes Fiji's elected government.
"It is clear Fiji is on the brink of a coup," Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer told his parliament."It is clear Fiji is on the brink of a coup," Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer told his parliament.
New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark warned Cmdr Bainimarama that sanctions would follow any coup, including a possible travel ban to New Zealand where he has family.
The feud between the prime minister and the army chief goes back several months.The feud between the prime minister and the army chief goes back several months.
It relates to legislation that Mr Qarase is seeking to pass, which offers a pardon to people involved in the 2000 racially-motivated coup and allocates the ownership of coastal land to ethnic Fijians.It relates to legislation that Mr Qarase is seeking to pass, which offers a pardon to people involved in the 2000 racially-motivated coup and allocates the ownership of coastal land to ethnic Fijians.
Cmdr Bainimarama played a key role in putting down the uprising and was at one point forced to flee for his life.Cmdr Bainimarama played a key role in putting down the uprising and was at one point forced to flee for his life.
He has made it clear that he does not feel the government has done enough to bring its perpetrators to justice.He has made it clear that he does not feel the government has done enough to bring its perpetrators to justice.