Fiji gunmen 'threaten PM'

Security forces have pledged loyalty to president

Gunmen who seized the Fijian parliament building on Friday are reported to have beaten the ethnic Indian Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry, and threatened to kill him if troops move against them.

Fijian television said the incident took place after the leader of the indigenous Fijian gunmen, George Speight, unilaterally declared himself prime minister and appointed other members of his group to cabinet posts.

If shooting takes place, we must expect the worst

Deputy PM and hostage Tupeni Baba

Mr Speight's declaration followed a statement by both the military and police commanders pledging their loyalty to the head of state, President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara.

Mr Speight has said that so far as he was concerned, Ratu Mara had "no legal claim to the title of president".

He added that any reports that Mr Chaudhry had been manhandled or injured were "scandalous".

Coup leader George Speight said he was acting for indigenous Fijians

According to Mr Speight, Mr Chaudhry and his ministers are being kept locked in parliament for their own protection "because of the absolute immense level of the backlash of public hate for them".

"If I let them loose, they'd probably be skinned alive," Mr Speight said.

The gunmen seized the prime minister and members of his cabinet in the parliament building in the capital Suva on Friday - the first anniversary of their election.

The streets of Suva were reported to be calm on Saturday, and troops loyal to the president are surrounding the parliament building.

'Inauguration'

During a ceremony to inaugurate his new administration, Mr Speight brought Mr Chaudhry to the parliament chamber handcuffed and made him kneel on the floor.

During the televised ceremony, Mr Chaudhry could be heard shouting loudly: "We are not legitimising anything."

Calls for security were heard, and there were sounds of Mr Chaudhry being bundled out of the room.

President Ratu Mara said he would use all available resources to bring an end to the coup.

"I wish to declare to the nation that I will use all the authority and resources at my command to bring about a just and peaceful solution to a tragic chapter in our history," he said, in a broadcast to the nation.

Roadblocks surround the parliament building

The country's trade union have called for a general strike from Monday.

Felix Anthony, secretary of the Fijian Trades Union Congress, said the strike was to demonstrate support for the Chaudhry government, trade union sources in New Zealand reported.

Former Fijian prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka is mediating between the gunmen and the authorities and has said he hopes to find a solution to the crisis some time on Saturday.

Mr Rabuka, who himself came to power after a coup in 1987, is reported to have told the armed gang that they have no choice but to surrender.

Mr Speight has said he is acting in the name of indigenous Fijians against what he says is a government dominated by politicians of Indian ethnic origin.

Over 260 people were arrested for looting

Out of 17 cabinet members - including the prime minister - there are six Indian Fijian representatives and 11 ethnic Fijian ministers.

But for his part, Mr Speight has warned the authorities not to attempt to use force to end the takeover, saying he will not be responsible for any fatal outcome.

One of the hostages also warned the military against storming parliament.

Tupeni Baba, deputy prime minister in the elected government and a hostage along with Mr Chaudhry, said: "We understand the president has asked the army to intervene. This scenario would mean that if shooting takes place, we must expect the worst."

Fiji facts

1970: Independence

1987: Two coups leave Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka in charge

1987: Republic declared, expelled from Commonwealth

1990: New constitution guarantees parliamentary majority for indigenous Fijians

1998: Constitution changed to remove guaranteed majority

1999: Rabuka loses election and Chaudhry takes over

Businesses and schools closed their doors in Suva at the height of the violence on Friday.

Police said they had made 269 arrests for looting and that 167 Suva shops had been damaged as up to 15,000 people flooded the streets of the capital.

Broken glass littered the streets in Suva's central market district, and several shops were gutted by fire.

A dawn-to-dusk curfew is in operation.