Coup leader George Speight in a press conference tonight said
all arms will be returned to the military once a decision has been
made between Ilisoni Ligairi, his head of security during the
hostage crisis, and the army.
Speight freed deposed Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and
17 other colleagues at 5.15pm today.
On Sunday the rebel leader and Military commander
Commodore Frank Bainimarama signed the Muanikau Accord
which stated that the hostages would be released on the day of
the Great Council of Chiefs meeting.
Speight signed the accord after most of his demands were met.
Speight's rebels have been given 24 hours to return the arms.
Speight said he will continue to fight the indigenous cause till
the end and despite releasing the hostages.
He said he was reminded that in all coups, the coup leader takes
over government. In his case, he has not, he stated.
The military will move into the parliamentary complex tomorrow
to collect arms rather than waiting for the rebels to give it up.
The military has worked out a system of collecting the arms and
will dispatch teams of soldiers to the complex to ensure all arms
are collected, Lt Col Filipo Tarakinikini said.
Under the Muanikau Accord, the rebels have to give up their
arms once a president is appointed.
The last of the hostages were released today after a Great
Council of Chief delegation went to the complex with an
ultimatum.
The Tui Vuda and former Vice President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo, has
been appointed the new President of Fiji.
The Vice President is to be decided by the Great Council of
Chiefs meeting tomorrow.
Iloilo was the choice of coup leader George Speight. Earlier
former President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara told the meeting he
did not want the position again.
It is believed the chiefs gathered in their confederacies late today
to decide on their nominees for Vice President.
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last revision July 13, 2000