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| Fiji suspended from Commonwealth | Fiji suspended from Commonwealth |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Commonwealth has suspended Fiji's membership in protest at this week's military coup, the fourth in 19 years. | The Commonwealth has suspended Fiji's membership in protest at this week's military coup, the fourth in 19 years. |
| The decision followed a meeting of Commonwealth foreign ministers in London. | The decision followed a meeting of Commonwealth foreign ministers in London. |
| The coup, which saw military chief Cmdr Bainimarama oust PM Laisenia Qarase, had already been condemned by the UK, Australia and New Zealand. | The coup, which saw military chief Cmdr Bainimarama oust PM Laisenia Qarase, had already been condemned by the UK, Australia and New Zealand. |
| It has also failed to win the backing of Fiji's influential Council of Chiefs and religious groups. | It has also failed to win the backing of Fiji's influential Council of Chiefs and religious groups. |
| The decision came after an emergency meeting of the Commonwealth's Ministerial Action Group. | |
| "Fiji's military regime should forthwith be suspended from the Councils of the Commonwealth pending the restoration of democracy and the rule of law in that country," a statement from the group said. | |
| Cmdr Bainimarama seized power on Tuesday, after a long-standing dispute with the country's democratically-elected leaders. | |
| Mr Qarase has warned that public anger over the military takeover could force the new rulers to step down. |