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Fiji Time: 3:39 PM on Tuesday 9 February

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Fiji PM adamant he won't step down

1650 FJT
Tuesday, December 05, 2006

Update: 4.50PM Embattled Fiji Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase has maintained he will not resign to accede to the military's demands.

Mr Qarase, who is virtually under house arrest at his official residence with some members of his Cabinet, says to do both would mean going against Fiji's Constitution.

In an advertisement that is to run in tomorrow's Fiji Times newspaper, Mr Qarase revealed he had been asked by Fiji's President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo, to resign or give in to the military's demands.

"As your Prime Minister I stand firmly in support and defence of our Constitution, and of the rule of law and parliamentary democracy in Fiji," he said

"Any military takeover of the elected Government would be unlawful and those responsible would bear the consequences because no one is above the law."

Mr Qarase also said there was a special meeting of his Cabinet at his Suva residence to discuss new demands by army commander Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama that were conveyed through the President and Vice President.

"These new demands include the extension of the Commander's contract of appointment to the year 2012, even though his current five-year contract has another two years to run," he said.

The Prime Minister also urged rank and file soldiers to think carefully of the consequences of the military's actions.

He claimed that apart from seizing his vehicle and those of his ministers and mounting checkpoints around the capital, soldiers also took the keys to his office.

Extra:

End of story

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