Australian Prime Minister John Howard said on Tuesday that he has turned down a request from his Fijian counterpart for a military intervention to fend off a military coup.

"I should inform you that this morning the prime minister of Fiji rang me and asked for Australian military intervention in response to the coup," Howard told reporters.

"I indicated to him that that would not be possible," said Howard, adding "I did not think it was in Australia's interest to become involved."

Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase called Howard as the Fijian leader remained holed up in his residence in the capital of Suva while troops, led by renegade military commander Commodore Vorege Bainimarama, took control of the city.

Source: Xinhua