George Speight, "Acting to defend the rights of ethnic Fijians"
The military leader of Fiji has replaced the country's elected Prime Minister, despite the threat of sanctions from the Commonwealth and other countries. Commodore Frank Bainimarama said that he had satisfied that all the requirements for the release of the now deposed Prime Minister and almost 30 other hostages, who are being held by armed gunmen in the country's Parliament Buildings. These include the abolition of Fiji's multi-racial constitution and the offer of an amnesty to the gunmen and their leader, George Speight.
The new Prime Minister's wife is one of the 30 hostages who has been held in the Parliament House for the past 12 days by the leader of the attempted coup d'etat, George Speght, and his armed followers. Commodore Bainimarama added that he was sorry the rebel leader would probably walk free, despite his criminal action. He said that he was not giving in to the rebels' demands, but that he was doing what he had to ensure there was no civil war in Fiji. His comments come a day after he seized power and imposed martial law.
The overturning of the multi-racial constitution, which had allowed an ethnic Indian to become Prime Minister, was a key demand of Mr Speight. A spokesman for Mr Speight's group said that negotiations on the possible release of the hostages had begun between them and the military. Mr Speight said that he was acting to defend the rights of ethnic Fijians.
