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Asia-Pacific
Fiji ends state of emergency
Military-led government lifts emergency powers imposed last month.
Last Modified: 05 Oct 2007 07:57 GMT
Bainimarama said Qarase's government was corrupt and too soft on those involved in the 2000 coup
Fiji's military-led government has said it will lift a month-long state of emergency after it found no threat to the country's stability.
 
Emergency rule was imposed in September after the military regime claimed Laisenia Qarase, the former prime minister ousted in a bloodless coup last year, was seeking to destabilise Fiji.
"The military is confident and we want to inform the public of Fiji that we do not see any threat to the nation or its people," a military spokesman said on Friday.
He said the emergency powers, which included allowing the military to detain people without charge, would be lifted on Saturday, adding there was "no reason" to prolong them.
 
The imposition of the state of emergency was condemned by the European Union, the US and Fiji's Pacific neighbours, Australia and New Zealand.
 
The move had led to threats that aid would be cut.
 
Interim government
 
Fiji's interim government first lifted emergency measures imposed after the bloodless coup in May, in return for about $247 million in European aid.
 
Fiji's military chief Frank Bainimarama overthrew Qarase's government last December claiming his administration was corrupt and too soft on those responsible for a previous coup in 2000.
 
Qarase has lived in exile on the remote Lau group of islands since the coup, but returned to the capital Suva in September - a move which prompted Bainimarama to reimpose the state of emergency.
 
Bainimarama, who has proclaimed himself interim prime minister, accused Qarase of "irresponsible and inciteful" behaviour and threatened to send him back into exile.
 
Qarase started court action this week challenging the legality of the current administration.
 
Despite widespread international condemnation of last year's coup, Fiji's military chief has refused to relinquish power or set a date for fresh elections.
Source:
Agencies
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