Fiji PM says coup is 'imminent

[uppityperson]

Anyone know anything about this? Thanks for more info.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6208526.stm

Fiji's prime minister has told the BBC that he expects to be taken into custody by the army, amid speculation the country is on the brink of a coup. Heavily armed troops have surrounded Laisenia Qarase's complex in the Fijian capital, Suva. Military chief Cmdr Frank Bainimarama has repeatedly threatened to unseat Mr Qarase over plans to grant amnesty to those behind a coup in 2000.

Mr Qarase says he assumes he will shortly be taken into custody. "I am at home but there are soldiers at the gate negotiating their way to come in," Mr Qarase said in an interview with the BBC on Tuesday morning. "If they want to carry out an illegal act, that is their choice," he said, "but I will not resign."

He said Fiji's powerful South Pacific neighbours Australia and New Zealand had "flatly said no" to sending military support after the Fijian police were disarmed on Monday.

Some government ministers - who complained that their vehicles had been seized - arrived at the house on Tuesday for meetings. The BBC's Phil Mercer, in Suva, says several truckloads of troops in combat gear have now converged on street near the prime minister's residence. Checkpoints have already been set up across the capital in what Mr Qarase described as a "strangling of the government of the day." ...(bit more@link)

[Duer 157099]

1. How come everyone else gets one? n/t

[Eugene]

2. Fiji’s President Dissolves Parliament: Report - newswire.co.nz

Fiji’s President Dissolves Parliament: Report
2:04 pm, 05 Dec 2006

Reports are coming in from Fiji that the president has given the military
the go-ahead to take over running the country.

Local media is reporting that Fijian President Ratu Josefa Iloilo has signed
an order dissolving Parliament.

Armed soldiers in Fiji have entered the grounds of the Prime Minister's residence
in Suva and seized ministerial cars. Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase was inside
meeting several cabinet ministers.

Meanwhile, New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark has condemned Fiji's President
for telling the country's military commander that he can remove the government.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.newswire.co.nz/main/viewstory.aspx?storyid=349685&catid=32

[Up2Late]

3. Were they one of the "Coalition of the Willing"?

Or was it some other tiny Island country?

[MonkeyFunk]

4. Both

CNN and MSNBC have breaking banners saying the Military Commander has taken over control of the government.