Fiji's police chief keeps ammo from military

SUVA - Fiji's Australian police commissioner has risked antagonising the country's military by withholding a shipment of ammunition because of recent takeover talk.

Andrew Hughes has refused to release 7.5 tonnes of bullets until he is assured they will not be used to remove the Government of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase.

"It would be irresponsible to approve its release at the moment after the military called on the Government to resign," Mr Hughes told the Fiji Times. "I will issue the permit once I'm satisfied with the military's explanation of its use, and I have communicated this to the acting commander."

It is the first time Mr Hughes has publicly taken seriously a military threat against the Government.

Military commander Voreque Bainimarama said recently that he would force the Government's resignation if it refused to drop legislation he didn't like.

Commodore Bainimarama is angry with proposed legislation that would grant amnesty to some participants in the 2000 coup and another bill that would enshrine indigenous ownership of coastal land, which he fears would hurt the tourism industry.

Acting military commander Captain Esala Teleni said the F$300,000 ($265,000) of M16 bullets from South Korea had nothing to do with the threats against the Government, but were to replenish stock.

On Thursday, the eve of the Budget, about 3000 soldiers and reservists will march to military camps. A military spokesman said it was a scheduled event and was not being done to intimidate the Government.

- AAP