Cruellest day of all for Fiji hostages

By NAOMI LARKIN in Suva

SUVA - For the people with the most to lose in the Fiji crisis - Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and his fellow hostages - yesterday was by far the worst day of their seven-day captivity.

It began full of hope, with reports on Fiji radio and in the Suva newspapers suggesting that a deal would be made that would see them freed and back with their families by sundown.

But as the day wore on, hope was whittled away and finally dashed.

The Great Council of Chiefs chairman, Major-General Sitiveni Rabuka, originally said he thought that the hostages would be freed yesterday afternoon.

But talks between council representatives and rebel leader George Speight were held up by traditional ceremonies and the release was delayed a day.

"It is better they are released in the morning. Accidents can happen in the dark," said General Rabuka.

At that stage the rebels were expected to accept the deal on offer, which included the removal of Mr Chaudhry.

It would have been hard to swallow but at least they would have been safe.

However, it gradually became clear that even these terms were unacceptable and Speight eventually rejected them outright, dashing all hope of freedom.

General Rabuka was of the opinion that the hostages should still be freed while talks continued.

But Mr Speight was in no mood for compromise. No deal, no release.

So instead of freedom, the hostages can only look forward to more terror and more uncertainty.

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