rediff.com: Fiji army begins isolating coup plotters: AFP

After weeks of stalemate, the Fijian army on Thursday moved to cut off members of the country's attempted coup from the outside world in a clear sign that the military's patience is running out.

Troops began taking up position around the parliament buildings where coup leader George Speight and a small group of gunmen have held hostage the elected Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhary and 26 others, including members of his cabinet and MPs, for six weeks.

The army, which imposed martial law a month ago after Speight's supporters went berserk on the streets of capital Suva, has readied a decree for Friday, which would allow the buildings to be cut off.

The state-run Fiji Broadcasting Commission said a nearby college and the exclusive Domain Road area, home to the American, French, British and New Zealand diplomatic missions, were evacuated.

But Speight warned any moves to sever communications and supplies of food, water and electricity would enrage his men and endanger his captives. Asked if that anger could be taken out on the hostages, he replied, "that is a very distinct possibility. Are they (the military) prepared to take the lives of the hostages into their own hands?"

The hostages have been separated on racial grounds and Speight made it clear the ethnic Indians, including Chaudhary, would be first in the firing line. "They (his supporters) would start with our Indian brothers," he said.

Until now, coup supporters have had easy access to parliament, enabling them to take in large amounts of food to the rebels.

In a further ratcheting of tension, the rebels briefly detained nine foreign journalists, warning them it could be unsafe to try to leave the complex. At the end of a press conference, Speight told the reporters: "If you want to leave you can, but I don't recommend it."

"It would be unsafe to leave the complex this evening. We advise you don't leave. Our guards have been advised not to let anybody in or out. We have received some threats from outside the parliamentary complex."

The journalists, mainly Australians and New Zealanders, were released shortly afterwards.

Speight, a failed businessman, and a handful of special forces soldiers stormed parliament on May 19. He claims to be defending the rights of indigenous Fijians and has demanded political power be reserved for ethnic Fijians.

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