The head of Fiji's armed forces sent troops to remove all the weapons from the only police unit with any real capability today. The disarming of the police tactical response unit means there really are no armed groups that can oppose a coup.
The troops could be seen loading weapons onto army vehicles at the offices of the police tactical response unit outside Suva, some three hours after they arrived asking to inspect the arms.
There was no apparent opposition from the police.
Fiji's military chief Voreqe Bainimarama has vowed to force Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase from power in a "peaceful transition" if he did not resign of his own accord.
It would be the Pacific nation's fourth coup in two decades.
Bainimarama set a deadline of midday Friday for the government to bow to a set of demands which include scrapping controversial legislation and ending a police investigation into possible sedition charges against him.
The path appears to be clear for the coup to commence any time Bainimarama chooses.
