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Fijian military take police arms

Troops entered two police compounds yesterday and emptied their armories of weapons, escalating Fiji's political crisis but stopping short of unseating the elected government.

The raids appeared aimed at heaping pressure on Fijian Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase to meet armed forces chief Commodore Frank Bainimarama's demand that he step down and allow an interim government to be appointed, a move that could avert the international censure and possible sanctions that a military takeover would bring.

Suva remained tense last night, with soldiers manning checkpoints erected on some streets but not stopping vehicles.

Earlier yesterday, troops in about six trucks went to the compound of the police tactical response unit -- the police force's only armed unit -- outside Suva and held talks with officers before loading the vehicles with automatic rifles and ammunition and driving away.

Troops also went to the police academy and emptied an armory that contained officers' privately owned firearms and weapons used in official ceremonies.

Police have said they are not in a position to challenge the more than 5,000 regular and reservist troops in the event of a coup.
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