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Fiji PM says coup is 'imminent' Fiji head 'dissolves parliament'
(about 2 hours later)
Fiji's prime minister has told the BBC that he expects to be taken into custody by the army, amid speculation the country is on the brink of a coup. Fiji's president is reported to have dissolved the South Pacific island's parliament, paving the way for the military to take control.
Heavily armed troops have surrounded Laisenia Qarase's complex in the Fijian capital, Suva. Earlier, armed troops surrounded the home of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase who has refused to resign.
Military chief Cmdr Frank Bainimarama has repeatedly threatened to unseat Mr Qarase over plans to grant amnesty to those behind a coup in 2000.Military chief Cmdr Frank Bainimarama has repeatedly threatened to unseat Mr Qarase over plans to grant amnesty to those behind a coup in 2000.
Mr Qarase says he assumes he will shortly be taken into custody. Cmdr Bainimarama is expected to give a television address in the coming hours.
Earlier, Mr Qarase told the BBC that troops were surrounding his home and that he expected to be taken into custody shortly.
No resignationNo resignation
But the embattled elected leader refused to step down voluntarily.
"I am at home but there are soldiers at the gate negotiating their way to come in," Mr Qarase said in an interview with the BBC on Tuesday morning."I am at home but there are soldiers at the gate negotiating their way to come in," Mr Qarase said in an interview with the BBC on Tuesday morning.
The army chief and PM have been at loggerheads for months
"If they want to carry out an illegal act, that is their choice," he said, "but I will not resign.""If they want to carry out an illegal act, that is their choice," he said, "but I will not resign."
He said Fiji's powerful South Pacific neighbours Australia and New Zealand had "flatly said no" to sending military support after the Fijian police were disarmed on Monday.He said Fiji's powerful South Pacific neighbours Australia and New Zealand had "flatly said no" to sending military support after the Fijian police were disarmed on Monday.
Some government ministers - who complained that their vehicles had been seized - arrived at the house on Tuesday for meetings.Some government ministers - who complained that their vehicles had been seized - arrived at the house on Tuesday for meetings.
The BBC's Phil Mercer, in Suva, says several truckloads of troops in combat gear have now converged on street near the prime minister's residence. The BBC's Phil Mercer, in Suva, says it now seems inevitable that Mr Qarase will be a casualty of the country's political turmoil.
Checkpoints have already been set up across the capital in what Mr Qarase described as a "strangling of the government of the day." Checkpoints have already been set up across the capital in what Mr Qarase described as a "strangling of the government of the day".
'Dire consequences''Dire consequences'
Our correspondent says the prime minister's official car has been confiscated but no attempt has yet been made to force entry into his compound.
Cmdr Bainimarama is angry at the way Mr Qarase has handled the aftermath of a coup in 2000, offering an amnesty to those responsible.Cmdr Bainimarama is angry at the way Mr Qarase has handled the aftermath of a coup in 2000, offering an amnesty to those responsible.
Mr Qarase says that at least 800 of those involved have already been convicted.Mr Qarase says that at least 800 of those involved have already been convicted.
Australia, Britain and New Zealand have advised their citizens to stay away from the tourism-dependent former British colony.Australia, Britain and New Zealand have advised their citizens to stay away from the tourism-dependent former British colony.
They have also warned of dire social, economic and diplomatic consequences if the military carries out a further coup.They have also warned of dire social, economic and diplomatic consequences if the military carries out a further coup.
The South Pacific island state has seen three coups in the last twenty years. The South Pacific island state has seen three coups in the last 20 years.