World
Chaudhry calls for reinstatement of Fijian government
Saturday, 15 July 2000 20:39The deposed Fijian prime minister, Mahendra Chaudhry, who was held hostage by nationalist rebels for eight weeks, has called for the reinstatement of his multi-racial coalition government. Mr Chaudhry was released on Thursday when the army agreed to meet the demands of the rebel leader, George Speight, to establish rule by indigenous Fijians. But Mr Chaudhry, who is an ethnic Indian, said that the country could not give in to such threats and must uphold democracy and the rule of law. The rebels have threatened further violence if the army does not keep to the agreement. But, in his first public statement since he was released, Mr Chaudhry urged all Fijians to press for the country's multi-racial constitution to be restored.
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