A Fijian factory making Australian Olympic uniforms says it faces closure
because of union bans.
Factory workers are complaining that Australian bans could cost 1400 jobs.
Many of the 1400 workers are asking Australian unions to focus on jobs
before democracy.
Already 200 have been laid off while still selling Australian Olympic
uniforms.
Factory manager Babita Kumar says no clothes are being shipped to
Australia, which is Fiji's major market.
"Fiji is already paralysed, please do not paralyse anymore," he said.
Fijian coup leader George Speight has walked out of the parliament
compound unescorted to farewell a Methodist church delegation that had
sought the release of the political hostages.
The Methodist church leaders left believing they could help broker an end
to the month-long crisis.
But Mr Speight says the visit had been "only spiritual."
It was the first time Mr Speight had left the compound unescorted since
May 19, when gunmen stormed the Parliament and took Prime Minister
Mahendra Chaudhry and his Cabinet hostage.
A delegation of the heads of Fiji's Methodist church has arrived
unannounced at the parliamentary complex in Suva and demanded the
release of all hostages being held by George Speight and his men.
The general secretary of the church, Ilaitia Tuwere, says the stalemate has
to be ended now, as the country is now in the fourth week of its coup crisis.
He says they will not leave without the hostages.
The 60-member group has been admitted to the compound where Mr
Speight's group has been holding 31 politicians, including Prime Minister
Mahendra Chaudhry and his Cabinet hostage since seizing Parliament on
May 19.
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