George Speight, "Military backed out of agreement"
The leader of the attempted coup in Fiji has demanded that the military government appoint one of his close allies, Ratu Jope Seniloli, as President. This demand forms part of a deal to release 31 political hostages being held since 19 May. The former businessman, George Speight, also repeated demands for promises of immunity for those involved in the takeover of Fiji's parliament, before he would set free the hostages. The hostages include Fiji's first ethnic-Indian Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry.
The seizure of the hostages by Mr Speight, who is seeking political dominance for indigenous Fijians, led to a military take-over of the country on Monday. Fiji's last president, Ratu Sir Kamisese, stepped aside to make way for military rule. In a nine-point proposal, Mr Speight's group also demanded that soldiers who defected to the rebels be reinstated in the army and that arrested supporters be released.
The latest development follows the collapse of an agreement to end the crisis appears to have collapsed, denting the chances of release for around 30 hostages being held in parliament. Mr Speight said that the military had backed out of an agreement to allow the influential Great Council of Chiefs to decide on Fiji's future government. The military are said to be planning to stay in power for at least three months after the present political crisis is resolved.
The deal was hatched on Friday and optimism was high. However, the crucial issue for the rebels was who would rule once the coup ended. They insisted on a civilian government. The Council of Chiefs was to discuss that on Monday. However, rumour got out the military had already decided. The news that the deal had collapsed was not well received. On the streets, there was a repeat of the violence earlier in the week, when supporters of the coup went on the rampage. One man was shot and wounded before order was restored. Extra troops have been deployed around the Parliament Building.
