Heavily armed Fijian troops put up roadblocks throughout the capital Suva today as fears of a fourth coup in 20 years gripped the South Pacific nation.
Troops cut off several roads entering Suva and began guarding the president's residence, witnesses said.
Truckloads of armed soldiers earlier left the country's main barracks in Suva, and embattled Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase was forced to fly by helicopter back into Suva due a army roadblock.
Fiji's military chief has threatened to topple Mr Qarase's government claiming it is corrupt and soft on those behind Fiji's last coup in 2000.
"Security forces will be out there and will ensure the security of all the people of Fiji," Commander Frank Bainimarama said at a news conference inside the main Suva barracks.
Cdr Bainimarama did not say he was taking over the country but said police weapons had been confiscated as a warning not to confront the military.
The commander has said he will "clean-out" Mr Qarase's government, which was re-elected in May for a second five-year term, but said it will be a peaceful transition.
Mr Qarase told Fijian radio this morning that he remained in control and has called an emergency cabinet meeting for tomorrow to try and avoid Fiji's third coup since 1987.
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the military was trying to "slowly take control" as there was a split in its ranks over whether to stage a coup.
"They are now reaching a point, the military, where they are trying to persuade the prime minister to stand down without actually mounting a coup," Mr Downer earlier told Australian radio.
"My guess is that within the military there is a fair bit of resistance to these tactics and quite a lot of resistance to a coup. There isn't an inclination to mutiny against the commander, so it's a torturously complicated situation."
Fiji's Great Council of Chiefs called for calm today and for the country's military chief to return to negotiations with the government over his grievances.