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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Fiji's head dissolves parliament | Fiji's head dissolves parliament |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Fiji's president has dissolved the South Pacific island's parliament, paving the way for the military to take control in a coup. | 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 for the people of Fiji 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. |