Fiji Revolts

Captors tearfully hugged captives in an emotional end Thursday to a two-month parliamentary hostage crisis that inflamed ethnic tensions in Fiji and ravaged the South Pacific nation's crucial tourist industry. Hours after the release of the last 18 hostages seized by rebels May 19, the Great Council of Chiefs--Fiji's traditional power--elected Ratu Josefa Iloilo as the country's president. Iloilo was rebel leader George Speight's handpicked nominee.

Indigenous Fijian rebels freed nine of their 27 government captives today, moving Fiji closer to the end of a nearly two-month crisis. Other rebels seized a beach resort where "The Blue Lagoon" was filmed, later releasing its 40 guests. The rebels who released the nine captives appeared to be trying to ease a crisis that began May 19 when they stormed Parliament and took several dozen hostages, including then-Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry.

Rebels and the military signed an accord Sunday aimed at ending a seven-week crisis and paving the way for the release of Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and 26 other political hostages, the military government said. The military said it would allow rebel leader George Speight and his cohorts to have some influence in choosing a new administration in exchange for the release of the hostages Thursday.

Nationalist rebels held 27 hostages today after another deadline set by the country's military rulers passed with no firm agreement for when the captives would be released from the Parliament compound. The military said it expected talks to resume later today in its bid to persuade rebel leader George Speight to free the hostages, including deposed ethnic Indian Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, possibly by Tuesday.

Armed rebels claiming to support Fijian coup leader George Speight seized about 30 hostages this morning at a police station near the capital in the latest escalation of the island nation's government crisis. A spokesman for the new captors, Iferemi Tiko, told reporters that he was a cousin of Speight and that the latest hostage-taking was in support of Speight's aims to disenfranchise ethnic Indians on the island. The captives included local soldiers, police and government officials.

About 100 of 300 supporters of rebel leader George Speight left his side Friday in return for an amnesty, and the government extended the grace period a day to induce others to quit the siege. The rebels, who have been holding 27 hostages in Parliament since May 19, said they would free the captives if the new civilian government resigns. But they also demanded that the military hand power to tribal chiefs, which the army has refused to do.

Security has been beefed up around Fiji's parliamentary complex after a shootout between troops and rebels who have been holding the deposed prime minister and 26 other hostages there for six weeks, the military said today. The 15-minute gun battle Tuesday occurred only hours after Fiji's new prime minister, Laisenia Qarase, was sworn in and vowed that Fiji would not return to multiracial rule.

An all-Fijian temporary government was sworn in in defiance of hostage-takers who are holding 27 members of the ousted, Indian-led government at gunpoint in Parliament. Banking executive Laisenia Qarase became prime minister in an appointment that provoked the anger of the rebels, who had demanded a role in naming any new government. Armed clashes later broke out between Fiji's military and supporters of rebel leader George Speight. Rebels and witnesses said five people were injured.

Gunmen holding 27 government hostages briefly detained 16 journalists after Fiji's military rulers spoke of plans to cut water, electricity and telephone lines to the besieged parliamentary compound. Guards armed with machine guns stopped the journalists from leaving the compound, where the hostages, including deposed Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, are being held.

Defying hostage-takers, Fiji's military rulers said today that they would appoint a civilian government without consulting further with the gunmen. The indigenous Fijian rebels holding the government hostage since May 19 have demanded a presence in the interim government before releasing their prisoners, who include deposed Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, an ethnic Indian.