Mahendra Chaudhry, Held in parliament since May 19
Fiji's indigenous leaders have appointed a supporter of coup leader George Speight as the country's new President. The appointment was made after Speight and his group of nationalist rebels released deposed Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry, and 17 other hostages they had been holding in parliament since May 19. Mr Chaudhry told reporters his top priority was to get the country back on its feet. Asked if he still considered himself Prime Minister, he said that it was up to what the people thought. One person has been killed and eleven others injured in a prison riot believed to be connected with the political crisis.The released hostages were this morning undergoing medical checks. Their release followed an ultimatum from the Great Council of Chiefs, who refused to name an interim government until the hostages had been freed.
