Fiji hostages freed, Speight man named President

SUVA, JULY 13. Fiji's deposed Prime Minister, Mr. Mahendra Pal Chaudhry, and 17 other hostages were freed today after 55 days in captivity, following which a supporter of the coup leader, Mr. George Speight, was appointed the new President of the island nation.

The hostages, captured on May 19 when Mr. Speight raided Parliament in the name of indigenous Fijians, left the complex in Red Cross trucks.

Independent radio FM-96 reported an emotional scene as the hostages were released, with Mr. Speight handing Mr. Chaudhry a bowl of `kava', a mild narcotic drink, in a traditional forgiveness ceremony. ``All the hostages have left the complex. They all looked very relieved. Tears have been flowing,'' it reported.

Soon after their release, Fiji's Great Council of Chiefs appointed Ratu Josefa Iloila, a supporter of Mr. Speight, as the new president. The chiefs earlier warned Mr. Speight they would delay naming a President if the captives were not freed.

Ratu Iloila announced that he will, later this week, name a government. Mr. Speight has said he would be ``honoured'' to be Prime Minister.

Mr. Chaudhry, Fiji's first ethnic Indian premier, emerged from his ordeal battered but unbowed, insisting his priority was to get the country back on its feet. Asked if he still considered himself Prime Minister, he said, ``I don't know. It is up to what the people think.''

The martial law spokesman, Col. Filipo Tarakinikini, said, ``Once executive authority is handed over to the new President, the military will revert to its normal role.'' But he added the Army would help police in ``mopping up'' operations.

The release of the hostages came as indigenous people seized a tourist resort, Fiji Forbes on Laucala island. Laucala is owned by the American, Mr. Steven Forbes, whose father, publishing millionaire, Malcolm Forbes, bought it in 1972. The island could not be contacted from Suva.

One dead in prison riot

One person was killed and 11 injured after a shoot out during a prison riot outside Suva today, local radio reported.

Prisoners at Naboro prison have for the last two days held at least 10 warders hostage. The report said the military took action after an attempted mass escape.

- Reuters, AFP

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