Suva: Fiji's military commander Voreqe Bainimarama has declared a state of emergency after taking over the government, the ministry of information said on yesterday (Dec 6, 2006).

The state of emergency took effect from late on Tuesday after Bainimarama announced he was taking control of the country, marking the country's fourth coup in two decades.

"I have with much reluctance assumed executive authority of the country and henceforth declared a state of emergency," Bainimarama said in the declaration.

The provisions of the declaration by Bainimarama, the head of the interim military government, was in line with his statement on Tuesday in which he said he was taking over from Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase's government.

"The primary objective of the interim military government is to take the country towards good governance, rid us of corruption and bad practices and at the same time promote the well-being of Fiji and its people at the earliest possible opportunity," Bainimarama said.

He said a two-tier cordon would be placed around the greater Suva area and that curfews could be imposed if needed.

Meanwhile, Fijian troops threatened to storm a police station on Wednesday and closed down parliament as they tightened control over the country.

Troops surrounded the police tactical response unit (PTR) headquarters just outside the capital Suva and threatened to storm the complex if acting police commissioner Moses Driver and acting deputy commissioner Kevueli Bulamainavalu did not accompany troops to the military headquarters.

"Considering the safety of staff at PTR and civilian families located in the area, they have under duress agreed to go to the military headquarters," the police said in a statement.

The ultimatum came after about 100 troops had surrounded the headquarters for around two hours.

Earlier Driver described the military takeover as treasonous.

"The regime that they have put in place is illegal. The Fiji police will not now or ever have any part of it," he said.