Fiji government toppled by military

SUVA - Fiji's military has toppled the government and dismissed elected Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, commander Voreqe Bainimarama announced Tuesday.

"As of six o'clock this evening, the military has taken over the government, has executive authority and the running of this country," he told a press conference.

The commander, who has for months been locked in a bitter standoff with Qarase, said he was suspending certain provisions of the country's constitution and taking over the role of the president as the head of state had been unable to act.

"Therefore, having stepped into the shoes of the president, I shall now therefore dismiss the Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase," he added.

He said an interim government would be appointed pending elections, and appealed for Fijians to remain calm and for businesses to continue to operate.

The military commander vowed the takeover would not be permanent.

Bainimarama, who had repeatedly warned Qarase to resign or be toppled, said he took the action after the premier failed to show up at a meeting with the country's president Tuesday.

"This stalemate has forced me to step forward and the military has taken overpower," he said.

Agence France-Presse

Australia calls on Fijians to resist coup

Canberra - Australia on Wednesday urged Fijians to passively resist the rule of military chief Voreqe Bainimarama after he toppled the pacific nation's elected government in a coup.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer called on the people of Fiji not to cooperate with military leaders or members of a new interim government Bainimarama began assembling with Wednesday's naming of a caretaker premier.

"I think the ordinary people of Fiji and the institutions of government in Fiji should show passive resistance to this imposition of dictatorship on their country," Downer told parliament.

"I don't think public servants should cooperate with the commodore and the military. I don't think the police should cooperate with the commodore and the military.

"I think they should show passive resistance to this regime and Commodore Bainimarama should understand that there is an urgent need to restore the ownership of government in his country to the people of that country, through their democratically elected parliament and institutions," he said.

Canberra has suspended defence cooperation with Fiji following the coup and has banned military personnel, members of the interim government and their families from visiting Australia, the major regional power.

The prime minister of the other regional power, New Zealand's Helen Clark, made a similar call for Fijians to defy Bainimarama, saying the fate of the troubled country was in their hands.

Earlier, Downer said the long-feared toppling of prime minister Laisenia Qarase was "disgraceful" and "reprehensible" and warned there would be serious repercussions for Fiji.

In addition to bilateral sacntions, Fiji is also expected to be suspended from the Commonwealth for the third time in 20 years following a succession of coups.

A Commonwealth ministerial action group will meet on Friday to consider Fiji's status.

Agence France Presse