5 Dec 2006

Fiji's Prime Minister is still resisting demands to resign

4:23 pm on 5 December 2006

The Fiji prime minister, Laisenia Qarase, is still resisting the military's demand that he meet all its requests and resign.

Armed soldiers briefly cleared the area around his residence but didn't move against him or the other key ministers who are with him.

Walter Zweifel reports from Suva.

"About 30 soldiers briefly sealed off the area around the prime minister's residence shortly after another army members seized the prime minister's vehicles. The soldiers pushed the media out of the suburban street but left less than an hour later. Mr Qarase has told local radio that he won't resign and says if reports are true that the President has dissolved parliament, any subsequent government will be illegal. The supervisor of elections was outside the residence in protest at the military action. Semesa Karavaki says the military's action is wrong and the commander will be held to account."