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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Fiji's head dissolves parliament | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Fiji's president has dissolved the South Pacific island's parliament, paving the way for the military to take control in a coup. | |
| Earlier, armed troops surrounded the home of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, who is refusing to resign. | Earlier, armed troops surrounded the home of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, who is refusing 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. |
| Cmdr Bainimarama is expected to give a television address in the coming hours. | Cmdr Bainimarama is expected to give a television address in the coming hours. |
| 'Unconstitutional' | 'Unconstitutional' |
| New Zealand's Prime Minister, Helen Clark, blasted news of the president's decision, a result of what she said was the military's "bullying, intimidation and threats". | New Zealand's Prime Minister, Helen Clark, blasted news of the president's decision, a result of what she said was the military's "bullying, intimidation and threats". |
| "This is a gross, undemocratic and unconstitutional situation," Ms Clark told BBC World television. | "This is a gross, undemocratic and unconstitutional situation," Ms Clark told BBC World television. |
| She said she believed the president had acted beyond his constitutional powers and warned of "fearful consequences unless the military and president pull back from the brink". | She said she believed the president had acted beyond his constitutional powers and warned of "fearful consequences unless the military and president pull back from the brink". |
| On Tuesday morning, Mr Qarase told the BBC's World Today programme that he expected to be taken into custody shortly. | On Tuesday morning, Mr Qarase told the BBC's World Today programme that he expected to be taken into custody shortly. |
| No resignation | No resignation |
| The embattled elected leader refuses to step down voluntarily. | The embattled elected leader refuses to step down voluntarily. |
| "I am at home but there are soldiers at the gate negotiating their way to come in," Mr Qarase said from his complex in the centre of the capital, Suva. | "I am at home but there are soldiers at the gate negotiating their way to come in," Mr Qarase said from his complex in the centre of the capital, Suva. |
| The army chief and PM have been at loggerheads for months | 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 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 Pacific neighbours Australia and New Zealand had "flatly said no" to sending military support after the Fijian police were disarmed on Monday. |
| New Zealand's prime minister has said that she feared military intervention could have made the situation worse. | New Zealand's prime minister has said that she feared military intervention could have made the situation worse. |
| 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. | 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' |
| 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 completes its coup. | They have also warned of dire social, economic and diplomatic consequences if the military completes its coup. |
| Fiji has seen three coups in the last 20 years. | Fiji has seen three coups in the last 20 years. |