The leader of the rebels holding Fiji's prime minister and other hostages hostage in the country's parliament building has said he will guarantee the safety of the captives. George Speight was responding to a statement by Fiji's president, Ratu Mara, that the rebels were prepared to start killing the hostages unless he resigned. In a televised address, President Ratu Mara said he had rejected a request to meet the leader of the attempted coup, George Speight. Fijian opposition leaders have come out in support of the attempted coup by gunmen and said that they are prepared for civil war. However the president, the police and the army are all pledged to support the government.
In another development, Rajendra Chaudry, the son of the prime minister, who is also being held by the gunmen, has reportedly resigned as his father's personal secretary. Ten deputies, who resigned from the government, have been released by the gunmen. The prime minister, Mahendra Chaudry, and 45 parliamentarians were taken hostage on Friday by armed men who stormed the parliament building and declared they had taken control of the country. The coup plotters object to the ethnic Indian element in the government.
Envoys from the European Union, Britain and France are scheduled to meet Fijian President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara today to discuss the attempted coup in the country. The ambassadors are expected to express their strong support for the government as it tries to negotiate with the armed men. Leading European nations have condemned the attempted coup and demanded the release of the hostages.
