9:20 AM
In a surprise development, gunmen at Fiji's Parliament have released four of the 31 hostages they seized more than a month ago.
The four women were all cabinet ministers in Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry's government.
They include former Transport and Tourism Minister Adi Koila, who is the daughter of the deposed President, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara.
A reporter who saw the women leave the compound says they all looked well.
It had been hoped that all the hostages would be released yesterday, but talks between coup leader George Speight and Fiji's military rulers broke down without agreement.
Negotiations over the 'Muanikau accord' are set to resume this afternoon.
Meanwhile, the man considered by many to be 'the brains' behind the May 19 coup says he wants a reconciliation with the hostages.
"We want the hostages to get to know us and realise that we were doing it for Fiji," says former SAS official, Ilisoni Ligairi.
In an exclusive interview with Fiji Village News, he said the hostages will be free to go home 24 to 36 hours after the Muanikau Accord is signed.
Ligairi explained that he wants the hostages to share a bowl of kava with their captors and make them "forget what has happened - because it's the Fijian way."
He also spoke about the "good conditions" that ousted Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry and colleagues are living in. Ligairi said the hostages have been getting exercise and spiritual healing while they have been held captive for the past month.
- IRN, FIJI VILLAGE NEWS
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