UN council presses Fiji's military to shun coup

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 30 (Reuters) The UN Security Council expressed concern about a possible a coup in Fiji and urged the Pacific island nation's military to peacefully resolve its differences with the government.

Council members ''call upon the Fiji military to exercise restraint and avoid taking any action which would undermine the rule of law and run counter to the best interests of the people of Fiji,'' Peruvian Ambassador Jorge Voto-Bernales said yesterday.

The 15-nation council supported all efforts, whether in Fiji or by its regional and international partners, to bring about ''a peaceful and lasting resolution of current political differences according to Fiji's constitution,'' Voto-Bernales, the council president for November, told reporters.

Fears of a fourth coup in Fiji in 20 years intensified after New Zealand-brokered talks between Fiji Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and his defiant military chief, Commander Frank Bainimarama, broke up on Wednesday without apparent resolution.

Bainimarama has repeatedly threatened to remove Qarase's elected government unless it drops several pieces of controversial legislation, including a bill that would grant amnesty to those involved in a coup in 2000.

He gave Qarase a list of ''nonnegotiable demands'' and a two-week deadline last week, at the same time threatening a ''clean-up'' of Qarase's government.

Fiji has suffered three coups since 1987. Bainimarama was almost killed in a failed but bloody mutiny linked to the 2000 coup and blames Qarase for being soft on those behind the coup.

REUTERS SBA BST0524