Fijian Military, Police Back Elected GovernmentFiji's military and police forces Saturday declared their loyalty to the country's elected government, Australian Associated Press reported.Police commander Isikia Savua told a press conference that his force will only accept instructions from President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara. "Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara is the sole legal authority of Fiji in these trying times," he said. Meanwhile, the acting commander of the Fiji Military Forces, Colonel Alfred Tuatoka, said Mara remained the commander in chief. "We are still bound by the 1997 constitution ... Our actions will always be within the law." Men armed with pistols and automatic rifles Friday seized Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and 45 other MPs and party officials at the parliament building in Suva, capital of Fiji, and declared that they had seized power. Chaudhry is the first ethnic Indian prime minister of the country. Since taking office one year ago, he was resisted by the majority indigenous Fijians. It was reported that many underground groups have been working on ways to oust his government. Australia, the regional big power, Friday condemned the coup and referred it as a terrorist action. The United States also denounced the hostage taking. A statement from the U.S. Embassy in Suva said: "We urge the gunmen inside who are holding the democratically elected leaders of Fiji hostage, to release them unharmed, immediately." "The consequences of any unconstitutional seizure of power would be very substantial" the statement warned. U.S. Ambassador Osman Siddique held meetings Friday with President Mara and former Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, who has been negotiating with the gunmen. Coup leader George Speight, in one of a number of decrees issued overnight, announced that Colonel Vosa Vatu would be the new military commander. But Vatu, who was also present at the press conference, declared his support for the government. Soldiers and police were manning roadblocks around Suva Saturday morning following Friday's rioting and looting, but they appeared to be making no direct attempt to end the standoff. According to Australian Broadcast Company ABC, Speight also held a press conference Saturday morning and warned the international community, the United States in particular, not to intervene. He declared that he had dismissed Mara and would appoint his own president. |
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