Fiji Prime Minister taken hostage

A group of armed protestors in Fiji in the South Pacific have entered the parliament building and taken the country's Prime Minister hostage.

Australian radio said shots had been heard shortly after seven civilians carrying guns went inside the parliament.

It's not known whether there are any casualties.

International telephone lines to Fiji have been cut.

The attack took place as the government, dominated by ethnic Indians, marked its first anniversary in office.

The Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry, is reported to be locked inside an upstairs room together with a number of other government ministers.

Recently there have been demonstrations led by the indigenous opposition party, which lost the general election to Mr Chaudhry's party in May last year. Correspondents say that there has been a groundswell of nationalist opposition to Mr Chaudry's government since the election.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service