Commodore Frank Bainimarama statement after troops disarm police

(4 Dec 2006) SHOTLIST :
1. Military troops waiting for Commodore Frank Bainimarama's announcement
2. Cutaway of media
3. Bainimarama arriving at news conference
4. Military troops
5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Commodore Frank Bainimarama, military commander:
"The Republic of Fiji military forces today after discussions with the police, went to secure the weapons with the police technical response unit. This was done to ensure the PTR, the technical response unit (of the Fijian police), won't be used by dissidents as an instrument against RFMF (Republic of Fiji Military Forces) and the people of Fiji. The manner in which the weapons were removed was the result of a misunderstanding between the tenants at the PTR armoury and an assistant police commissioner (name inaudible). In addition we intend to disarm the bodyguards attached to the government ministers and the prime minister."
6. Cutaway of media
7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Commodore Frank Bainimarama, military commander:
"The securing of PTR weapons was done to ensure the safety of PTR personnel and that we would not want to present an opportunity where police weapons would be used against the military."
8. Cutaway of media
9. Bainimarama seated, UPSOUND (English) Reporter's question :
"Who is running Fiji now, sir?"
10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Commodore Frank Bainimarama, military commander:
"I don't have any comments right now."
11. Bainimarama leaving
STORYLINE
Troops on Monday entered police armouries in the South Pacific nation of Fiji and disarmed the civilian forces to remove the potential for clashes, the military commander, who has repeatedly threatened to overthrow the government, said.
Troops entered the compound of the police tactical unit - the Fiji police's only armed squad - outside Suva, loaded weapons and ammunition into trucks and took them away.
They also went to an armoury at the police academy in the city and removed firearms privately owned by police and other weapons used in official ceremonies.
Commodore Frank Bainimarama refused to say if a coup was under way.
There was no immediate sign that troops had moved against elected officials or had taken control of any government functions, but the raids on police armouries dramatically escalated the political crisis that has paralysed the country.
Local radio stations reported the military had also set up several check points on streets in the capital, Suva, but troops were not blocking traffic or checking cars.
Bainimarama said in a statement read to reporters that the military had taken weapons off the police "to ensure that police weapons are not used against the military."
He added there were plans "to disarm the bodyguards attached to the government ministers and the prime minister."
He said police continued to have a role in maintaining security in Fiji, and would secure the safety of the people of Fiji together.
Asked who was running the country, Bainimarama replied, "I don't have any comments right now," and left the news conference.
Bainimarama has threatened to topple the Prime Minister of Fiji Laisenia Qarase at any time, after last week saying a deadline to meet his demands to "clean up" the government had expired. He has vowed a peaceful transition.
It would be Fiji's fourth coup in 19 years.
The nation of about 900,000 people is among the richest and most developed in the South Pacific, attracting up to 400,000 tourists a year to resorts built on idyllic beaches mostly in the country's west, away from Suva.
On Monday morning, Qarase said he was in his office in Suva and the government was still in charge.
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