28 Nov 2006

Fiji' military commander reiterates call for prime minister to give into his demands

8:14 pm on 28 November 2006

Fiji's military commander, Commodore Bainimarama, is insisting that the prime minister, Laisenia Qarase, has to give in to his demands when they meet in Wellington.

Commodore Bainimarama has told Radio Tarana in Auckland that the military wants all its non-negotiable demands met.

He has also expressed concern that Mr Qarase has asked for foreign assistance.

Commodore Bainimarama says the military will not stand for any foreign intervention and Mr Qarase had better be prepared to answer for its consequences.

The military commander says the meeting in Wellington will be the shortest Mr Qarase has ever attended.

He says Mr Qarase should either come with a YES or a NO to the military's demands.

Commodore Bainimarama says Mr Qarase will not be in Wellington to debate about the issues because that debate has been going on for the last six years.

The Wellington meeting has been arranged by the New Zealand government in an effort to ease the crisis currently facing Fiji.