Speight releases nine hostages

11:20 AM - HERALD ONLINE STAFF

Fiji coup leader George Speight has released nine of the hostages he has been holding since May 19th.

The hostages, who were freed around 1:30 this morning local time, are: former Attorney General Anand Singh, Commerce Minister Anup Kumar, Works Minister Shiu Sharan Sharma and back benchers Pradhuman Raniga, Vinod Maharaj, Prince Gopal Larkshman, Deo Narain, Leo Smith and William Aull.

After being checked by the Red Cross, the freed hostages were allowed to return to their homes.

Deposed Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and 17 other hostages remain captive at Parliament in Suva, with their release expected in the next few days.

Yesterday, the rebels moved their Fijian and Fiji Indian hostages into the same building for the first time in their 54-day ordeal.

The reunion may have been designed to make space for a meeting of the Great Council of Chiefs tomorrow. The Council will decide on a new President and Prime Minister, under the terms of the Muanikau Accord signed by Speight and the Fiji military to end the hostage crisis.

It is not clear whether the Great Council meeting will in fact take place at Parliament, or at the main army barracks near Suva.

A spokesman for the rebels said the release of the nine hostages was a gesture of goodwill, to show that the rebels intend to honour the Muanikau Accord, which will grant amnesty to Speight and his core group of supporters.

Four women hostages were released by the rebels on June 25.

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