Fiji's Prime Minister has been taken hostage in an apparent coup.
Reports say shots have been fired from inside the parliament building in the capital Suva, after seven men, wearing civilian clothes, entered parliament late this morning.
Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, is believed to be locked in an upstairs room of the building.
It has been confirmed by New Zealand foreign affairs officials that Chaudhry and up to eight cabinet ministers have been taken hostage.
The move follows a March through Suva this morning, where demonstrators demanded the removal of Mr Chaudhry.
Today is the anniversary of the election of Chaudhry's Indian-dominated government, which has been accused of exacerbating racial divisions in Fiji.
Phone services to Fiji have gone down.
In 1987, the elected government of Fiji was overthrown in a coup led by Sitiveni Rabuka. A second coup, also led by Rabuka, occurred a few months later.
More Fiji coup coverage
- IRN
Another coup in Fiji
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