Deadline in Fiji coup stand-off passes without incident

Troops stayed in their barracks as a threatened coup deadline in Fiji passed on Friday, with the country’s defiant military commander enjoying a day at a sporting event while the prime minister left the capital and went into hiding.

Armed forces chief Commodore Frank Bainimarama reportedly said he had the “green light” to replace the government after his noon deadline passed without the government satisfying his demands. Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase said he had been told the deadline had been extended until Monday.