NEW LONDON - A spokesman from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has just confirmed rumors that Premier Mehmed Selim of the Coalition People's Republic has been deposed in a coup, and has been granted asylum within Bretonian space. The coup was executed due to reports that Premier Selim was preparing to enact democratic reforms and normalise relations with Bretonia as well as the other major House Governments. Reactionary authoritarian elements within the Coalition governing structure were unhappy with the threat to their power bases posed by warming diplomatic and trade relations with Bretonia and the increased political and economic freedoms for the Coalition people that were soon to follow.
Her Majesty's government has thus far declined to recognise the legitimacy of the new Coalition "government" under the self-proclaimed head of state Ivan Petrov. Our source within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has indicated that they are willing to consider extending diplomatic recognition under the condition that they agree to adhere to the terms of the Sydney Accords signed by Premier Selim.
BBC will continue to follow this story as it develops.