Скачать или смотреть Troops move into police compounds in Fiji, seize weapons

(4 Dec 2006)
1. People stood in front of sign: (English) 'Police Tactical Response Division'
2. Soldier outside gate to police station
3. Parked police cars, soldier in foreground
4. Policemen inside gate to police station
5. Discussion between police and army within the police station grounds
6. Soldier standing guard
7. Army trucks enter compound
8. People watching events
9. People and traffic outside station
STORYLINE:
Fiji's army seized weapons from the Tactical Response Division (TRD) of the police force in the capital, Suva, on Monday, as the military appeared to move forward on its threats to overthrow the government.
The Army Commander General Frank Bainimarama has been threatening a coup for over a week.
On Sunday, he again demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, after a succession of similar demands.
Bainimarama is upset over pending legislation that would pardon the leaders of a coup in 2000 and set aside coastal land for ethnic Fijians.
Most of Fiji's police patrol unarmed, but the TRD is trained to handle hostage and terrorist situations and is proficient in handling weapons.
However Qarase insisted the civilian government was still in charge, and police said the operation at the barracks where rifles were taken by the military was a 'friendly visit' conducted with the government's permission.
About a dozen soldiers came to the police station. At first they were told, said onlookers, that they could not inspect the weapons but then drove trucks up to the police station's armoury.
An AP photographer at the compound saw soldiers dressed in body armour and carrying automatic rifles loading weapons onto a truck.
It was unclear whether the troops' actions were the first steps in a military takeover of the government, or fit within concessions Qarase has already offered to the military to avoid a coup.

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