Armed troops keep Fiji PM out of palace [View All]

[SoCalDem]

What a crazy world we live in.. FIJI is having a coup?? That will be good for tourism..not :eyes:
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Armed troops keep Fiji PM out of palace
http://www.theage.com.au/news/World/Armed-troops-keep-Fiji-PM-out-of-palace/2006/12/04/1165080843723.html

December 4, 2006 - 6:24AM


Armed soldiers have prevented Fiji's embattled prime minister Laisenia Qarase from entering the presidential palace. Qarase tried to enter the official residence of President Ratu Josefa Iloilo on Monday afternoon, but his official car and the vehicle carrying his security detachment was turned away by soldiers at the gate.

He returned to his home in Suva, where he was met for crisis talks by Home Affairs Minister Josefa Vosanibola. Police are stationed in the grounds of the prime minister's home, but there is no sign of armed soldiers nearby. Qarase was forced earlier on Monday to return to the capital, Suva, by helicopter in order to avoid a military check point.

He and his wife flew home from talks in Naitasiri - a stronghold of Qarase's SDL party - after learning of the road block. On Sunday, Vosanibola questioned why the president continued to hold meetings with renegade military commander Frank Bainimarama as his coup threats against the government escalated. Military check points have been established throughout Suva, including on an access road that leads to the homes of Bainimarama, Vice-President Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi, and the secretariat of the Pacific Islands Forum.

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Vosanibola left the prime minister's home a short time later. Earlier on Monday, troops disarmed the island nation's only armed police unit, which maverick military commander Frank Bainimarama said was to ensure the weapons were not used against the military.
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