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Fiji´s military extends coup deadline to Monday

Source: CCTV.com | 12-01-2006 15:52

Fiji's Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase says the country's military has extended its deadline to Monday for the government to meet its demands or be toppled.

The military had given Qarase 24 hours to clean up his government or face a coup. Qarase has said he's considering asking for foreign intervention to end the crisis. Meanwhile, Pacific Island foreign ministers are meeting in Sydney to discuss the crisis in Fiji.

Fiji army chief says to
clean-up the government.
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On his arrival to the talks, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer expressed his increasing concern over the coup threats against Fiji's government.

He said, "It's finding itself already making concession to a military commander who is threatening the military overthrow of the government. The situation in a constitutional sense is already a tragic situation."

Despite the prime minister's latest concessions, the military chief does not feel it's enough.

Military commander Frank Bainimarama still wants Qarase to remove senior government and public service figures he says were connected to the 2000 coup.He said, "We don't want the bill suspended. We want the bills thrown out full stop."

In Suva, the atmosphere was tense, but quiet on Friday.Local residents have been stockpiling supplies from supermarkets in case a coup does take place.

 

Editor:Du Xiaodan