SUVA, Dec 2: Fiji’s military commander Voreqe Bainimarama declared he was in charge of the country as Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase returned to the capital Suva on Saturday in an attempt to avert a looming coup.

Mr Qarase said he still hoped the country’s fourth coup in two decades could be avoided through dialogue, but Mr Bainimarama remained adamant the military would take control in what he described as a ‘peaceful transition’.

He told Radio New Zealand he had not decided when the military would take action to remove the government, but said it would be within the next week.

Mr Qarase and other key ministers left the capital on Friday as the noon deadline passed for the government to agree to a series of military demands or be removed from power.—AFP