Demonstrations Fiji

Soldiers sealed off Suva with roadblocks Friday and fired on Melanesian youths who rampaged through the streets of the capital, looting shops and setting fire to buildings. At least 13 people were arrested and 12 were injured when the troops opened fire. There was no immediate word on what started the rioting in this South Pacific island nation, which was the scene of a military coup last May that overthrew Prime Minister Timoci Bavadra.

Hundreds of protesters massed outside Fiji's main military base, demanding the resignation of the civilian government selected after the country's leaders were taken hostage in Parliament. The capital, Suva, was hit by a power outage. Television reports said the water to the main power station was cut by supporters of rebels who have been holding deposed Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and 26 others since May 19.

Hundreds of protesters massed outside Fiji's main military base, demanding the resignation of the civilian government selected after the country's leaders were taken hostage in Parliament. The capital, Suva, was hit by a power outage. Television reports said the water to the main power station was cut by supporters of rebels who have been holding deposed Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and 26 others since May 19.

Soldiers sealed off Suva with roadblocks Friday and fired on Melanesian youths who rampaged through the streets of the capital, looting shops and setting fire to buildings. At least 13 people were arrested and 12 were injured when the troops opened fire. There was no immediate word on what started the rioting in this South Pacific island nation, which was the scene of a military coup last May that overthrew Prime Minister Timoci Bavadra.

Military coup leader Sitivene Rabuka vowed Saturday to prevent Indians from ever assuming political power again in Fiji, and Indians shuttered their shops and gathered in crowds to protest the takeover. Lt. Col. Rabuka said earlier that he led the bloodless seizure on Thursday to stop fighting between ethnic Fijians and Indians after the April 11 election, which led for the first time to an Indian-dominated government.

All reserve soldiers were asked to report to the nearest barracks as soon as possible Sunday as the Fiji military, which staged a bloodless coup Thursday, prepared for escalating protests against the takeover. The government-owned radio broke into programs Sunday night to alert listeners for an important broadcast by the governor general and the officer who led the coup against the Indian-dominated government, but there was no broadcast and a government source said an "impasse" had arisen.

All reserve soldiers were asked to report to the nearest barracks as soon as possible Sunday as the Fiji military, which staged a bloodless coup Thursday, prepared for escalating protests against the takeover. The government-owned radio broke into programs Sunday night to alert listeners for an important broadcast by the governor general and the officer who led the coup against the Indian-dominated government, but there was no broadcast and a government source said an "impasse" had arisen.

Military coup leader Sitivene Rabuka vowed Saturday to prevent Indians from ever assuming political power again in Fiji, and Indians shuttered their shops and gathered in crowds to protest the takeover. Lt. Col. Rabuka said earlier that he led the bloodless seizure on Thursday to stop fighting between ethnic Fijians and Indians after the April 11 election, which led for the first time to an Indian-dominated government.