LONDON, Nov 10 (Reuters) - New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark said on Friday the immediate threat of a coup in Fiji had passed after intense diplomacy by its neighbours in the south Pacific.

The Fijian government has been in a tense standoff with the armed forces since their commander, Frank Bainimarama, threatened last month to remove Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase from office in a dispute over contentious legislation.

"I think things are much calmer in Fiji this week than they were earlier last week," Clark told Reuters in an interview during a visit to London.

"It had to be taken seriously - perhaps it mightn't have come to bloodshed and an armed revolt but nonetheless you can't take lightly the military trying to bully, intimidate, threaten and stand over an elected government."

Bainimarama refused earlier this week to rule out overthrowing Qarase and on Thursday stayed away from a meeting with influential tribal chiefs called to end the crisis.

Fiji has suffered three racially motivated coups since 1987.

Indigenous Fijians, who make up 51 percent of the population of 906,000, led the last coup in 2000.

They fear the loss of political power to the ethnic Indian minority that dominates the economy.

Australia and New Zealand reinforced their embassies in Suva over fears of a possible coup. Clark told Reuters four extra police officers sent as a precautionary measure could be heading home soon if the situation remained calm.

Bainimarama installed Qarase as interim leader in a bid to put down the 2000 coup but now believes he has been too soft on its perpetrators.

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