Speight to walk free says military chief

By EUGENE BINGHAM

SUVA - Fiji rebel leader George Speight is to be granted an amnesty for leading the coup that has resulted in the overthrow of the Government and the end of the 1997 constitution.

Fiji's military commander, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, confirmed the amnesty for Speight in an interview with BBC television late last night.

He described Speight's actions as "criminal" but said he would honour an offer of amnesty made at the weekend by the President, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara.

"That was a promise made by His Excellency and we intend to carry that forward," he said.

The amnesty, the removal of the Chaudhry Administration and the scrapping of the constitution were Speight's key demands.

Early this morning, however, there was no indication that he would release the 30 hostages he has been holding for 13 days.

Fiji Radio reported that his supporters were still opposed to freeing the captives, among them deposed Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and Ratu Mara's daughter, Adi Koila Mara Nailatikau, who was Tourism Minister.

Commodore Bainimarama made it clear that the amnesty was for the sake of Fiji, not for the sake of Speight and his men.

"We are not doing this for them; we are doing this for Fiji," he said. "We did what we did to ensure there is no civil war, no civil strife."

Meanwhile, the military junta - which yesterday revoked the constitution - is moving swiftly to replace itself with a civilian administration.

Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, son-in-law of Ratu Mara, who stepped down as President before the military takeover, is reported to be in line for the job of interim Prime Minister.

Ratu Epeli is Adi Koila's husband. He was Army commander when Sitiveni Rabuka, then a colonel, staged the May 1987 military coup.

He later became High Commissioner to London and has recently been a roving ambassador to the South Pacific.

More Fiji coup coverage

Under seige: map of the Parliament complex