Australia fears Fiji coup

November 24, 2006

Fears have emerged in Australia of an attempt by Fiji's military chief to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase. The Pacific nation has been beset with racial and policital tensions since 1987 when indigenous Fijians overthrew the elected Indian-dominated coalition. A further coup on 2000 saw the country's first ethnic Indian prime minister and his cabinet held hostage for several weeks.