Fiji Coup Leader Loses Supporters to Amnesty Program
SUVA, Fiji — 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.
A planned meeting between Speight and military leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama failed to take place, but lower-level delegations from both sides discussed the latest rebel demands.
Military spokesman Maj. Howard Politini said the talks at the main military barracks outside the capital, Suva, went well.
The military, which declared martial law May 29 and named a civilian government of ethnic Fijians, has met most of Speight’s demands, including deposing Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, an ethnic Indian. The country’s multiracial 1997 constitution also was scrapped.
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