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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Fiji suspended from Commonwealth | Fiji suspended from Commonwealth |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The Commonwealth has suspended Fiji's membership in protest at the recent military coup, the fourth in 19 years. | The Commonwealth has suspended Fiji's membership in protest at the recent military coup, the fourth in 19 years. |
| The decision followed a meeting of foreign ministers from Commonwealth countries in London. | The decision followed a meeting of foreign ministers from Commonwealth countries in London. |
| The coup, which saw military chief Cmdr Bainimarama oust PM Laisenia Qarase, has already been condemned by the UK, Australia and New Zealand. | The coup, which saw military chief Cmdr Bainimarama oust PM Laisenia Qarase, has 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. |
| This is the third time that Fiji has been suspended from the Commonwealth following coups. | |
| 'Serious violation' | |
| Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon announced the suspension after an emergency meeting of the Commonwealth's Ministerial Action Group. | Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon announced the suspension after an emergency meeting of the Commonwealth's Ministerial Action Group. |
| FIJI TENSIONS TIMELINE 2000: Brief coup put down by army chief BainimaramaJuly 2005: Bainimarama warns he will topple government if it pardons jailed coup plottersMay 2006: PM Laisenia Qarase wins re-election31 Oct: Qarase tries - and fails - to replace BainimaramaNovember: Qarase says he will change law offering clemency to coup plotters - Bainimarama warns of coup5 Dec: Military declares coup Fiji voices: Coup impact Fears for future History of coups | |
| "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," he said in a statement. | "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," he said in a statement. |
| The group "unequivocally condemned" the military take-over, calling it "a serious violation of the Commonwealth's fundamental principles". | The group "unequivocally condemned" the military take-over, calling it "a serious violation of the Commonwealth's fundamental principles". |
| The move means Fiji's military leaders are barred from all inter-governmental Commonwealth meetings. Existing technical assistance will continue, but there will be no new initiatives. | |
| But Mr McKinnon said dialogue with Fiji's new leaders was important. | |
| "It would be our endeavour to obviously engage with the regime as soon as we can in order to do what we can to bring the country back to democracy," he said. | |
| 'Peaceful campaign' | 'Peaceful campaign' |
| Cmdr Bainimarama seized power on Tuesday, after a long-standing dispute with the country's democratically-elected leaders. | Cmdr Bainimarama seized power on Tuesday, after a long-standing dispute with the country's democratically-elected leaders. |
| He had accused the government of corruption and opposed the prime minister's plan to offer amnesties to some of those involved in the racially-motivated coup in 2000. | |
| But key groups have failed to back the take-over. | But key groups have failed to back the take-over. |
| It has angered the Great Council of Chiefs, a hugely influential body with the power to appoint the president and vice-president, on the advice of the government. | It has angered the Great Council of Chiefs, a hugely influential body with the power to appoint the president and vice-president, on the advice of the government. |
| The Associated Press reported that the council would convene a meeting within the next few days to decide on its reaction to the coup. | The Associated Press reported that the council would convene a meeting within the next few days to decide on its reaction to the coup. |
| Fiji's Council of Churches - another key body in Fijian society - has described the coup as the "manifestation of darkness and evil in society". | Fiji's Council of Churches - another key body in Fijian society - has described the coup as the "manifestation of darkness and evil in society". |
| The ousted prime minister, who has been ordered to his home on a remote Fijian island, has warned that public anger over the military takeover could force the new rulers to step down. | The ousted prime minister, who has been ordered to his home on a remote Fijian island, has warned that public anger over the military takeover could force the new rulers to step down. |
| Mr Qarase has pledged a peaceful campaign to restore civilian rule in the Pacific island nation. | Mr Qarase has pledged a peaceful campaign to restore civilian rule in the Pacific island nation. |
| "There is only one legal authority in the country at this time and that is the democratically-elected government which I lead," he told local radio. | "There is only one legal authority in the country at this time and that is the democratically-elected government which I lead," he told local radio. |