Crisis talks between Fiji Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and his defiant military chief ended in New Zealand this morning with no clear sign of an agreement to avert a fourth coup in 20 years.
Qarase and military chief Commander Frank Bainimarama were on their way home after two hours of talks, the premier on board a New Zealand Air Force plane and Bainimarama on a commercial flight.
Qarase described the New Zealand-brokered talks as "very meaningful" but did not say if a resolution had been reached.
"Hopefully we will have further talks when we return to Fiji," he told reporters outside the Government House in Wellington.
Bainimarama, who arrived for the talks 40 minutes after Qarase and entered via a back door, left grim-faced without making any comment.
Qarase had said before the talks that the future of the South Pacific island nation rested on the outcome of the meeting.
Bainimarama has repeatedly threatened to remove Qarase's elected government unless it drops several pieces of contentious legislation, including a bill that would grant amnesty to those involved in a coup in 2000.
Fiji has suffered three coups since 1987 and Bainimarama was almost killed in a failed but bloody mutiny linked to the 2000 coup.
Armed soldiers have been patrolling the streets of the Fijian capital Suva this week, amid fears that a coup would be launched within days. Suva streets were calm on Wednesday, with markets and businesses open.