HEADLINES & NEWS
NZ'ERS TAKEN HOSTAGE IN FIJI BY SPEIGHT SUPPPORTERS
In Fiji tonight, two New Zealand pilots are being held hostage as Fijians react to the military's crackdown on rebel leader George Speight. Speight was arrested this morning - clashes between his supporters and soliders have left one person dead and 40 wounded. Some of the injured are believed to be in a serious condition. 360 other people have been arrested. The two New Zealand pilots taken hostage were working for Air Fiji - they had just emerged from their plane at Savusavu airport on the island of Vanua Levu when armed men drove up and bundled them into a vehicle. Ethnic Indians are also being seized by [illegible] in the northern town of Labasa and taken to barracks held by the [illegible]. Elsewhere on Vanua Levu, there are reports of shooting and a military barracks is said to have been taken over. The Military's spokesperson, Lt Colonel Filipo Tarakinikini says the army now understands that the two New Zealand pilots are being held at a house in the Savu Savu secondary school.
PREREC
The Prime Minister Helen Clark says she's very concerned about the news that two New Zealanders have been taken hostage. A short time ago, the caretaker Prime Minister of Fiji Laisenia Qarase called on the international community for patience. Our reporter in Suva Todd Niall has been following today's events - he joins me now. LIVE
BUSINESS NEWS with CATHERINE WALLBRIDGE
4 1/2 YEARS FOR MAN WHO KILLED TWO BOYS
There was a charged atmosphere in the High Court in Wanganui when a 62 year old man was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for the manslaughter of two boys on a city bridge in February. Victor Lloyd Minnell pleaded guilty to [illegible] manslaughter charges, and one charge of failing to stop after an accident. [illegible] landrover hit the boys as they cycled across the bridge - the imapct threw them into the river below. Our reporter Jill Galloway was in court - I asked her what happened. PREREC
5.30 NEWS HEADLINES
SPORT with CHRIS REID
HOSTAGES HELD IN FIJI
Returning to our lead story - and the increasing crisis in Fiji. Two New Zealand pilots are being held hostage as Fijians react to the military's crackdown on rebel leader George Speight. Speight was arrested this morning - clashes between his supporters and soliders have left one person dead and 40 wounded. 360 other people have been arrested. Professor Brij Lal has a close involvement with Fiji, and helped draw up its last multi-racial constitution. I asked him why he thought the military had finally moved. PREREC
As you heard earlier two New Zealand pilots have been taken hostage. Joining us now is Ken Mcdonald CEO of Air Fiji. LIVE
(interview interrupted - restarted after Winston Peters iv)
HFA REVIEW OF CERVICAL SMEAR LABS ATTACKED
Another expert witness at the Cervical Cancer Inquiry in GIsborne has attacked the credibility of the Health Funding Authority's review of the performance of laboraties reading cervical smears. Dr Brian Cox head of the cancer epidimiology unit at Otago medical school appeared at the inquiry today - I asked our health correspondent Rae Lamb what he had to say. PREREC
NO PROSECUTION OF MAGNUM DEAL
The Serious Fraud Office has decided against prosecuting anyone associated with the Magnum transaction, the deal at the centre of the Winebox inquiry. The controversial tax avoidance scheme was investigated by a three year long Commission of Inquiry, headed by Sir Ronald Davision. At the end of that inquiry, there was no legal determination of whether the Magnum deal was fraudulent. Earlier this month, Inland Revenue announced an end to its investigations into the transaction. The Serious Fraud Office director David Bradshaw, says his office wont prosecute because they are unable to show [illegible] intent.
[illegible] New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has long-pressed for just such a prosecution - he joins me now. LIVE
CONCORD INVESTIGATIONS CONTINUE
In France, crash investigators are pouring over flight recorders from the Concord which crashed yesterday, killing 113 people. Meanwhile, emergency services continue to work at the scene of the crash near Paris with fleets of vehicles taking away the victims bodies. The BBC's Julia Hargreaves reports. PKG
CLOSE & THEME