Fijian army chief says to "clean-up" Government

Fiji army commander Commodore Vorege Bainimarama said Friday he's got "no word" from the Prime Minister to meet his demands.

Bainimarama indicated his clean-up campaign will go ahead as what he commented Thursday night.

Bainimarama vowed a "peaceful transition" of Qarase Government if the Prime Minister fails to meet his demands by the deadline, which is 12:00 a.m. local time (2400 GMT Thursday).

The outspoken army chief said the "clean-up" would not happen Friday night due to a major rugby game Friday between the army and Police, Suva sources told Xinhua.

Bainimarama said the deadline he gave had passed and "would not be extended," said the sources.

Bainimarama said he took this as Government's green light to conduct his clean-up campaign and he will decide on further steps.

Fijian Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase said earlier there's nothing his government can do but wait until Bainimarama's deadline for a "clean-up" is reached.

Qarase said he was counting on divine intervention to prevent Fiji's fourth coup since 1987.

So far Suva, capital of Fiji, is stable and quiet as usual.

Jin Renwu, a Chinese restaurant owner told Xinhua that he continues business and local people come and eat without much worry about a possible coup.

Jin said the people on the street "look like they never worry about the intense situation."

Tensions in Fiji have been high since Bainimarama threatened a month ago to remove Prime Minister Qarase from office.

Fiji, a South Pacific nation of about 900,000 people, consists of 800-plus volcanic and coral islands. Racial and political tensions since 1987, including three coups, have been an intermittent source of instability of the country.

Source: Xinhua