The president of this South Pacific nation was under arrest Monday following his attempt to replace the prime minister with his nephew and dissolve Parliament, state-run radio said.

Soldiers manned roadblocks in the capital of 22,000 and liquor sales were banned to prevent violence following the political crisis, Australian Associated Press reported.AAP quoted police in Vanuatu as denying reports that President George Solomanu was under arrest.

Attempts to contact officials in Vanuatu, 1,200 miles east of Australia, went unanswered.

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