Fiji's political crisis has entered its eighth day after self- proclaimed prime
minister George Speight rejected a package of conciliatory measures
offered by the Great Council of Chiefs.
Earlier the chiefs endorsed Mr Speight's armed overthrow of the nation's
ethnic Indian Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry, saying the coup leader
should be pardoned and included in a new government of indigenous
Fijians.
But that has not satisfied Mr Speight and his supporters.
The rejection of the Great Council's proposals means the hostages will
spend a seventh night in the chambers of parliament.
A spokesman for the coup leader said Mr Speight is angry with the Great
Council's proposals and now wants a further meeting to discuss the plans.
He has also again demanded President Mara resign, and immunity from
prosecution for himself and his followers.
Earlier a clearly frustrated and angry council chair, Siteveni Rabuka admitted
the Council had given in to blackmail and said the repercussiions would
linger for longer than the 10 years Fiji suffered because of the 1987 coups.
Meanwhile Prime Minister John Howard has condemned the Great
Council of Chief's resolution in favour of Mr Speight.
Mr Howard says Australia deplores anything which puts race ahead of
democratic processes.
"It would appear that there has been a capitulation to rebellion, a
capitulation to hostage-taking, a capitulation to the use of armed force to
alter a democratic outcome," he said.
"And that is always to be profundly regretted and profoundly condemned.
"The inevitable outcome of an illegal criminal act is that this democratically
chosen Prime Minister is to disappear from office and that is a profoundly
upsetting and disturbing outcome."
© 2000 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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