SUVA (Fiji), Dec 4: Troops in Fiji seized the weapons of the island nation's only armed police unit on Monday in a move the police described as unlawful amid soaring tensions over a looming military coup.

The troops loaded the weapons onto army vehicles at the offices of the police tactical response (PTR) unit outside Suva, three hours after they arrived asking to inspect the arms.

About 20 troops also went to the main police barracks in Suva in the early afternoon and later removed mostly privately-owned guns from the armoury there.

There was no opposition from the police, with acting police commissioner Moses Driver saying the police policy was not to confront armed military.

“The removal of police arms from the armoury at the PTR by the Republic of Fiji Military Forces without our approval early this afternoon was unlawful and unnecessary,” Driver told a press conference. Mr Driver warned the military that each soldier would be held accountable for breaking the law.—AFP