Fiji's prime minister accused the military of in effect mounting a coup today - after troops disarmed the police, surrounded government buildings, and seized official cars from ministers.Armed soldiers attempted to force their way into the residence of the prime minister, Laisenia Qarase, in the capital, Suva, as he met his cabinet. They were halted by bodyguards, witnesses told Reuters. "There is virtually a coup now taking place," Mr Qarase told New ZealandRadio. "They have strangled the police force, neutralised them; and now they are strangling the government machinery."
Yesterday's raids on police armouries, and troops appearing on the streets, escalated a crisis that has paralysed the Pacific island state for weeks.
Commodore Frank Bainimarama, head of the armed forces, visited President Ratu Josefa Iloilo earlier today, and Mr Qarase said the president could be decisive in determining the outcome. Mr Qarase has refused to meet Cdre Bainimarama's central demand that he resign, leading the latter to order a gradual takeover of the capital, Suva, since early Monday.