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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
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| Fiji army moves to control Suva | Fiji army moves to control Suva |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Fiji's military has moved to take control of the capital, Suva, amid speculation an army coup was imminent. | Fiji's military has moved to take control of the capital, Suva, amid speculation an army coup was imminent. |
| Troops disarmed the police and ministerial bodyguards and set up roadblocks around Suva. | Troops disarmed the police and ministerial bodyguards and set up roadblocks around Suva. |
| Military chief Cmdr Frank Bainimarama refused to say if a coup was under way but said the moves were aimed at preventing any outbreak of violence. | Military chief Cmdr Frank Bainimarama refused to say if a coup was under way but said the moves were aimed at preventing any outbreak of violence. |
| He has repeatedly threatened to unseat PM Laisenia Qarase over plans to grant amnesty to those behind a coup in 2000. | He has repeatedly threatened to unseat PM Laisenia Qarase over plans to grant amnesty to those behind a coup in 2000. |
| Disarmed | Disarmed |
| Truckloads of heavily-armed soldiers were seen leaving the army's barracks in Suva. | Truckloads of heavily-armed soldiers were seen leaving the army's barracks in Suva. |
| They were putting up roadblocks around the capital during the night, and had reportedly cut off several roads into the city. | They were putting up roadblocks around the capital during the night, and had reportedly cut off several roads into the city. |
| FIJI TENSIONS TIMELINE 2000 Brief coup put down by army chief Bainimarama12 July 2005 Cmdr Bainimarama warns he will topple government if it pardons jailed coup plotters13 July 2005 PM Laisenia Qarase says he will review law pardoning plotters17 May 2006 Mr Qarase wins re-election31 Oct Mr Qarase tries - and fails - to replace Cmdr Bainimarama as army chief4 November Mr Qarase says he will change law offering clemency to coup plotters7 November Military calls for police chief to quit30 November Mr Qarase offers "concessions" after meeting Cmdr Bainimarama30 November Cmdr Bainimarama warns of coup if demands not met1 December Deadline set for possible coup passes without incident In pictures: Coup countdown | FIJI TENSIONS TIMELINE 2000 Brief coup put down by army chief Bainimarama12 July 2005 Cmdr Bainimarama warns he will topple government if it pardons jailed coup plotters13 July 2005 PM Laisenia Qarase says he will review law pardoning plotters17 May 2006 Mr Qarase wins re-election31 Oct Mr Qarase tries - and fails - to replace Cmdr Bainimarama as army chief4 November Mr Qarase says he will change law offering clemency to coup plotters7 November Military calls for police chief to quit30 November Mr Qarase offers "concessions" after meeting Cmdr Bainimarama30 November Cmdr Bainimarama warns of coup if demands not met1 December Deadline set for possible coup passes without incident In pictures: Coup countdown |
| Earlier, troops arrived at the headquarters of the country's only armed police unit, the Tactical Response Unit, outside Suva. | Earlier, troops arrived at the headquarters of the country's only armed police unit, the Tactical Response Unit, outside Suva. |
| They loaded weapons belonging to police on to army trucks and took them away. | They loaded weapons belonging to police on to army trucks and took them away. |
| Troops also went to a police armoury in the city to remove more weapons. | Troops also went to a police armoury in the city to remove more weapons. |
| Bodyguards for the prime minister and other ministers were also disarmed. | Bodyguards for the prime minister and other ministers were also disarmed. |
| Cmdr Bainimarama told reporters his troops had taken weapons off the police "to ensure that police weapons are not used against the military". | Cmdr Bainimarama told reporters his troops had taken weapons off the police "to ensure that police weapons are not used against the military". |
| But he insisted the police still had a role to play. "The police and the (military) will work together to ensure the security and safety of all the people of Fiji," he said in a brief statement. | But he insisted the police still had a role to play. "The police and the (military) will work together to ensure the security and safety of all the people of Fiji," he said in a brief statement. |
| The move was called "unlawful and unnecessary" by acting police commissioner Moses Driver. | The move was called "unlawful and unnecessary" by acting police commissioner Moses Driver. |
| Cmdr Bainimarama gave no indication whether a coup was under way during his statement to reporters, despite local media reports that he has drawn up a 13-member interim cabinet. | Cmdr Bainimarama gave no indication whether a coup was under way during his statement to reporters, despite local media reports that he has drawn up a 13-member interim cabinet. |
| When asked who was running the country, he replied: "I don't have any comments right now". | When asked who was running the country, he replied: "I don't have any comments right now". |
| He originally gave the government until last Friday to resign or face Fiji's fourth army takeover in two decades. | He originally gave the government until last Friday to resign or face Fiji's fourth army takeover in two decades. |
| In a TV interview at the weekend, he said he expected the prime minister to "give in peacefully" and leave office on Monday. | In a TV interview at the weekend, he said he expected the prime minister to "give in peacefully" and leave office on Monday. |
| Prime Minister Qarase remained defiant on Monday, insisting he was still in charge. He said he had called a special cabinet meeting on Tuesday to consider Cmdr Bainimarama's "latest and ever-changing demands". | Prime Minister Qarase remained defiant on Monday, insisting he was still in charge. He said he had called a special cabinet meeting on Tuesday to consider Cmdr Bainimarama's "latest and ever-changing demands". |
| Ongoing feud | Ongoing feud |
| Australia and New Zealand have warned of dire economic and social consequences if the military deposes Fiji's elected government. | Australia and New Zealand have warned of dire economic and social consequences if the military deposes Fiji's elected government. |
| "It is clear Fiji is on the brink of a coup," Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer told his parliament. | "It is clear Fiji is on the brink of a coup," Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer told his parliament. |
| The army chief and PM have been at loggerheads for months | The army chief and PM have been at loggerheads for months |
| New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark warned Cmdr Bainimarama that sanctions would follow any coup, including a possible travel ban to New Zealand where he has family. | New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark warned Cmdr Bainimarama that sanctions would follow any coup, including a possible travel ban to New Zealand where he has family. |
| The feud between the prime minister and the army chief goes back several months. | The feud between the prime minister and the army chief goes back several months. |
| It relates to legislation that Mr Qarase is seeking to pass, which offers a pardon to people involved in the 2000 racially-motivated coup and allocates the ownership of coastal land to ethnic Fijians. | It relates to legislation that Mr Qarase is seeking to pass, which offers a pardon to people involved in the 2000 racially-motivated coup and allocates the ownership of coastal land to ethnic Fijians. |
| Cmdr Bainimarama played a key role in putting down the uprising and was at one point forced to flee for his life. | Cmdr Bainimarama played a key role in putting down the uprising and was at one point forced to flee for his life. |
| He has made it clear that he does not feel the government has done enough to bring its perpetrators to justice. | He has made it clear that he does not feel the government has done enough to bring its perpetrators to justice. |
| Are you in Fiji? Are you concerned about the current situation? Send us your comments and experiences. | |