NEWSLINKS
US EDITION
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTION 99
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Search Rediff

Fiji hostage crisis drags on

A Correspondent in Suva

The 31 hostages being held in Fiji's Parliament will spend another day in captivity as talks between the interim military government and the rebel group stretch into the night.

Coup leader George Speight and his group say the government added fresh demands to the accord that was to be signed today.

Earlier, both sides had approved a draft

With the addition of demands, the rebels said that they would have to study the accord, which will delay the release of the hostages.

Earlier, families of the hostages had been advised that the release was likely later today. A national trauma recovery team at a media briefing in Suva said the release was imminent.

Speight seized the hostages, including Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, his cabinet and government, on May 19.

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report