Radio confirms Fiji coup

It's unclear whether anybody has been injured in Fiji, as an apparent political coup unfolds in Suva.

The country's Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudry and up to seven cabinet ministers are being held hostage in a room in Suva's parliament buildings.

Gun shots have been heard from the building.

Foreign Affairs in New Zealand says the incident happened when a march involving five thousand people, unexpectedly headed off towards parliament buildings

Seven armed men emerged from the crowd and took the Prime Minister and cabinet ministers hostage.

Foreign Affairs spokesman, James Funnell, says the situation is confined to parliament buildings in Suva although there are independent reports that violence is more widespread.

He says while it's too early to issue advice to New Zealand tourists in Fiji, most of the resorts are well away from Suva.

Meanwhile Moti Lal, who's living in Nausori, about twenty minutes from Suva, is confirming that radio reports say a civil coup has taken place.

He says George Speigh, who claims to have led the coup has just gone on local radio and said he has taken charge of the country on behalf of every individual member of the indigenous Fijian community.

Speigh says he has dissolved the 1997 constitution.

A Fiji Indian who drove Sitiveni Rabuka when he was in Auckland several weeks ago says he's certain the former coup leader was hatching today's takeover in the back of his cab.

The man who wants to remain anonymous, says a top Fiji military official and Rabuka were definitely up to something.

He says the pair were speaking in code, mentioning "87" - a reference to the year of the first military coup, and that now wasn't the right time.

Meanwhile Telecom's Linda Sanders says Fiji pulled the plug on communications at about 11:15 this morning, leaving Fiji isolated for between one and one and a half hours.

She says Telecom is still working on restoring links with Fiji and customers are now able to make calls in either direction.

However Telecom warns callers to expect delays due to congestion.

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