PM defiant as army seizes police weapons

FIJI'S Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase, surrounded by bodyguards at his home in Suva last night, declared he would not resign and that he intended to hold a special cabinet meeting today.

Mr Qarase said the military's seizure of weapons yesterday from a special division of the police force was illegal and that it was "a sad day for democracy and the rule of law".

He confirmed the military had tried to get into his home to seize weapons they thought were there but were turned away by his bodyguards.

He also said he had been summoned to the President's home and that military officers had told him he would have to get out of his car at the gate and walk to the residence, which he refused to do, and he was driven away.

Mr Qarase said he was not afraid of anybody. He agreed he was now in an isolated position and it was a matter of waiting to see "how this develops".

"If they have the firepower they can do whatever they like," he said. "We will just wait."

Mr Qarase said he would continue to fight for democracy in Fiji. Asked whether he expected foreign intervention, he replied that "our neighbours" had stated publicly that they would not intervene in the affairs of his country.

Fiji was virtually in the hands of the military commander, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, with all police weapons seized and roadblocks around Suva, the capital.

The military not only disarmed the Police Tactical Response Division, the country's only armed police unit, but also all bodyguards of ministers, including Mr Qarase's bodyguard.

Commodore Bainimarama held a news conference last night in which he said the weapons had been seized to prevent any "dissident" elements from threatening the military or the people. He called on anyone who was contemplating a "criminal act" against the military or the people not to do so.

He said it was his intention that the police and military work together and that the weapons had been taken away to prevent any conflict.