FijiÂ’s military took over running the country in a bloodless overthrow on Tuesday after confining the elected prime minister to his home in the South Pacific island nationÂ’s fourth coup in 20 years. Military Commander Frank Bainimarama said he had temporarily stepped into President Ratu Josefa IloiloÂ’s role as head of state and dismissed the government of Laisenia Qarase after a power struggle that had simmered all year.
Promising that the takeover would not be permanent, Bainimarama said he had appointed little known Jona Senilagakali Baravilala, a former military doctor and political novice, as interim prime minister before fresh elections are called.