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Fiji to impose state of emergency | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A state of emergency is to be declared on the South Pacific island state of Fiji, as the military tightens its grip a day after a bloodless coup. | |
The deposed prime minister has flown back to his home on an outlying island at the request of the military. | |
The military has dissolved parliament, occupied government buildings and imposed checkpoints across the capital. | |
The coup, the fourth in two decades in the Fijian archipelago, was condemned by the international community. | |
The UN secretary general has demanded that the government be restored and both the UK and US have suspended aid. | The UN secretary general has demanded that the government be restored and both the UK and US have suspended aid. |
The BBC's Phil Mercer, in Suva, says that a state of emergency would give military chief Commodore Frank Bainimarama the right to impose curfews, multiply checkpoints and call on army reservists. | |
Deposed Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase has called on Fijians to peacefully oppose the coup. | |
"I believe there will be a peaceful reaction by thousands and thousands in the next few days," Mr Qarase told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation before leaving for the remote island of Lau. | |
Media control | Media control |
Scores of protesters gathered outside the deposed prime minister's home in the capital, praying and singing hymns under the eye of the soldiers. | |
I urge all citizens to remain calm, and maintain the peace that currently prevails Cmdr Bainimarama Profile of army chief In pictures: Fiji coup Press reflects unease | I urge all citizens to remain calm, and maintain the peace that currently prevails Cmdr Bainimarama Profile of army chief In pictures: Fiji coup Press reflects unease |
Cmdr Bainimarama, who led the coup, has accused the prime minister of corruption and leading Fiji on a path of doom. | |
The two have long been in dispute, largely over the commodore's opposition to a proposed amnesty for those responsible for a 2000 coup he helped put down. | The two have long been in dispute, largely over the commodore's opposition to a proposed amnesty for those responsible for a 2000 coup he helped put down. |
Soldiers have been stationed around local media offices to ensure that no statements by the deposed prime minister were broadcast, Reuters reports. | Soldiers have been stationed around local media offices to ensure that no statements by the deposed prime minister were broadcast, Reuters reports. |
Our correspondent says that despite the coup and the increased presence of soldiers and checkpoints, the situation is calm. | |
Ethnic tensions | Ethnic tensions |
Cmdr Bainimarama named a doctor, Jona Senilagakali, as caretaker prime minister, and said that next week he would ask the Great Council of Chiefs to restore executive powers to President Ratu Josefa Iloilo. | Cmdr Bainimarama named a doctor, Jona Senilagakali, as caretaker prime minister, and said that next week he would ask the Great Council of Chiefs to restore executive powers to President Ratu Josefa Iloilo. |
The president would then appoint an interim government and elections would follow at an unspecified date, the military chief said. | The president would then appoint an interim government and elections would follow at an unspecified date, the military chief said. |
The Commonwealth nations have said suspension from the group is highly likely. | The Commonwealth nations have said suspension from the group is highly likely. |
Fiji has a population of only 900,000 but is a major tourist destination and attracts up to 400,000 visitors a year. | Fiji has a population of only 900,000 but is a major tourist destination and attracts up to 400,000 visitors a year. |
It has also witnessed considerable political tension over the past 20 years between ethnic Fijians, who make up about 50% of the population and ethnic Indians at around 44%. | It has also witnessed considerable political tension over the past 20 years between ethnic Fijians, who make up about 50% of the population and ethnic Indians at around 44%. |