6 Dec 2006

Fiji police say they will not take orders or co-operate with military

9:32 am on 6 December 2006

There is dissent within the new joint command of the Fiji police and military which was set up as part of the coup by the military commander, Commodore Frank Bainimarama.

The military chief has declared himself President and dismissed the government of Laisenia Qarase.

Walter Zweifel reports from Suva .

"Fiji's new self-styled president, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, says there will be a more visible presence of military and police in the next few days as part of a bid to foil any attempts to resist his regime. He says a joint military and police force will oversee security. But the acting police commissioner, Moses Driver, has described the military as an illegal organisation indulging in a serious criminal act. He says police won't take orders from the military and no arrangement for cooperation has been made...... This is a total lie and we are not going to accept such a statement because it was never discussed....... Meanwhile Suva has remained calm and the country's new leader says there won't be a curfew during the next few days."