Fiji PM flees Suva

Deposed Fiji Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase has flown out of the capital of Suva to his home island, a day after the military exercised a bloodless coup.

Mr Qarase and his wife Leba were taken from his residence before sunrise and flown to the island of Vanua Balavu to the east of the main island, government and airport sources told Reuters.

The Secretary to the Prime Minister was also escorted at gun point from the Parliamentary precinct.

In the fourth coup in Fiji in 20 years, soldiers barricaded Mr Qarase inside his home on Tuesday before military commander, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, assumed power and appointed an interim premier.

Mr Qarase and Commodore Bainimarama had been involved in a power struggle all year, with the military leader accusing Mr Qarase of being too soft on the perpetrators of Fiji's last coup in 2000.

The streets of the capital remained calm as Fijians woke to their first full day of military rule.

Soldiers were stationed in all local media offices to ensure statements by Mr Qarase were not broadcast or published.

The main Fiji Times newspaper suspended publication and the main television station was not airing normal news broadcasts.

The Fiji Sun published as usual with a picture of Commodore Bainimarama on the front page, while the Fiji Daily Post splashed the headline "Coup" on its front page.