Fiji's military has played down Thursday threats by the United
Nations to withdraw the country's soldiers from all peace keeping
operations if the army continues to threaten the government.
According to Fijilive, a Suva-based news service, Military Chief
of Staff Esala Teleni said the army was not "worried" about the UN
statement.
In a press statement Wednesday, the UN Security Council
expressed its support for efforts to resolve political dispute in
Fiji.
UN Secretary General Koffi Annan said the military and the
government should continue to search for a peaceful reconciliation
of their difference within the constitutional framework.
Annan has also warned that the United Nations will cut all ties
with the military if it plans to carry out a coup.
Regarding to the UN statement, Capt. Teleni said "we in the
military have patience and I would presume that we wait for the
commander to make a statement on this."
Commander Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, who had returned to Suva
after a crisis talks with Fijian Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase in
Wellington, has not made any comments.
Fiji capital has been calm Thursday following a military
exercise the night before.
Military spokesman Major Neumi Leweni told local media the
exercise was designed to train the troops in the event of foreign
military forces being sent to Fiji.
Army reservists were called to camp last week in readiness for a
"clean-up" of the government.
Army chief Commodore Bainimarama has warned that Prime Minister
Laisenia Qarase can avert this by giving in to the army's list of
demands.
The army wants the government to drop several pieces of
contentious legislation, drop police investigations into the
military and sack the Police Commissioner, amongst others.
(Xinhua News Agency November 30, 2006)
