FIJI: COUP LATEST: GEORGE SPEIGHT

(9 Jul 2000) English/Nat
XFA
The coup in Fiji could be nearing an end.

Coup leader, George Speight said he and the military leaders are very close to an agreement to free his 27 hostages.

The deal would end Fiji's 7-week government crisis.

Speight said he hoped an agreement would be signed later today with the hostages released within days.

Under a deal hammered out over two days of meetings, Fiji's influential tribal chiefs would meet Thursday to choose a new president.

The hostages would be released as the chiefs meet and rebels would turn in their weapons.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
\"We hope to sign an accord today which says that the Great Council of Chiefs will choose the next president and vice president and in conjunction with the Great Council of Chiefs and the new president and vice president they will then select the best interim lineup. That same day a decree will be signed on the meeting of the great council of chiefs, that will mark the abolition of the existing interim government and their removal which will pave the way for the Chiefs to make probably the most important decision in Fiji's history - selection of a new president.\"
SUPER CAPTION: George Speight, Coup Leader

SOUNDBITE: (English)
\"The protest shows the people, exercising their free choice of what they want around here and is the best way to tell (Commodore Frank) Bainimarama 'we don't like what you've done, we don't like the interim government, we don't condone it and don't accept it.'\"
SUPER CAPTION: George Speight, Coup Leader

SOUNDBITE: (English)
\"They will be all released, yes.\"
SUPER CAPTION: George Speight, Coup Leader

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...