Rebels reject Rabuka but welcome military and media

SUVA - Rebels claiming to be the new government of Fiji have announced they distrust Major General Sitiveni Rabuka and will no longer use him as an intermediary with the President, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara.

George Speight, the leader of the rebel gunmen barricaded inside Fiji's parliament, said Rabuka was biased against his group.

Speight and his men have held Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and several other MPs hostage since storming parliament Friday morning.

The rebel force has increased to about twenty men. Ratu Mara says the military has informed him that some of Speight's men are members of the Counter Revolutionary Unit (CRU), which is part of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces.

The president revealed he has heard there was communication between the kidnappers inside parliament and the CRU. Ratu Mara says he instructed the military to cut that line of communication.

Ratu Mara says he will not enter into any dialogue with Speight as long as rebels are imprisoning parliamentarians and are carrying arms in the parliamentary complex.

The President said he can not speak to the self-proclaimed Prime Minister because he had learned Speight might threaten to shoot hostages one at a time unless he resigned, and he can not allow himself to receive such a threat.

The President also expressed hope that there will not be any overseas intervention in the current crisis. He says there are personnel in Fiji who are qualified to resolve the situation.

When asked how he felt about his daughter, Adi Koila Mara Nailatikau, being held hostage, a teary eyed President said, "I think there are many fathers who have daughters and sons inside the parliamentary complex. I am sorry that she was there because last Friday, Adi Koila was late to parliament because she had just arrived in the country, rushed home to change, got there and ended up being locked up."

Ratu Mara said late this afternoon that he was surprised to learn people had been coming and going from the Parliament buildings and he said that would be stopped.

This evening, as police were attempting to clear the immediate area around parliament, representatives of the Speight group suddenly rushed out and invited the media to enter the complex. A number of local and international reporters are now inside with the government hostages and rebels.

Prime Minister Chaudhry appears to be unhurt. The Director of the Fiji Red Cross, John Scott, was allowed into parliament to meet with the prime minister. He says Chaudhry is well and has no visible injuries. He said all other MPs are fine and weathering well.

Rebels are apparently allowing families of the People's Coalition Government MPs held hostage to take food, a change of clothes and toiletries to the Parliamentary complex. But they are not able to enter or see their loved ones. Speight said guards will screen all items.

- FIJI VILLAGE NEWS