Armed soldiers search a car at a random checkpoint between Nadi and Suva.
Herald file picture / Peter Meecham
Armed soldiers search a car at a random checkpoint between Nadi and Suva.
Herald file picture / Peter Meecham
Arsonists have set fire to the Masonic Hall in Fiji's original capital city,
Levuka.
Radio New Zealand quotes a Fiji radio station as saying thirty men,
thought to be supporters of rebel leader George Speight, attacked
the hall and set it ablaze. They also looted several shops.
Levuka is on the island of Ovalau, east of the main island, Viti Levu. It
was Fiji's capital until 1882 and contains many historic buildings.
The attack in Levuka is the latest incident in a string of attacks
apparently designed to show support for the rebels who still hold 27
hostages in the capital city, Suva.
In the past few days, villagers around Fiji have set up roadblocks,
taken over a police station, shut down the country's main hydroelectric
station, and seized a number of hostages.
Fiji's Great Council of Chiefs is again being called in to resolve the
political hostage crisis.
IRN political editor Barry Soper says the rebel leader has promised to
release the hostages on Thursday morning before the chiefs meet.
The move follows the signing between Fiji's coup plotters and martial
law authorities of an accord which gives almost total amnesty to
George Speight and his supporters.
The agreement states its immmediate objectives are the release of
the political hostages held at Parliament, and the restoration of law
and order as soon as possible.
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