NEWS WITH CATRIONA MCLEOD
SOME HOSTAGES RELEASED IN FIJI
There have been fresh developments in the Fiji coup crisis. In the last few minutes, more of the hostages held by the coup plotters at parliament have been freed. The move comes as Fiji's Great Council of Chiefs continues to meet behind armed guard and barbed wire in Suva. The council is meeting to hear a proposal from President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara to end the crisis, which began on Friday when coup plotters took the prime minister and cabinet ministers hostage at parliament. In other developments, there have been shots fired at the hostage scene; UN secretary general Kofi Annan has sent a special envoy to [illegible] Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon is also heading for Suva; and in New Zealand, the prime minister has made a special statement to parliament. We'll have more on those developments shortly but first to the hostage scene at parliament buildings in Suva. Our reporter Barbara Dreaver has been inside the complex with the coup leaders for the last few days. She joins us now. LIVE
As we have just heard, the prime minister Mahendra Chaudry isnt among those just freed. His family are waiting anxiously on developments from today's meeting of the council of chiefs - Mr Chaudhry's son, Sachin (pro Sar-cheen) told me that they are worried for his safety. PREREC IV
Now to the Great Council of Chiefs meeting, which is being held in a Suva military barracks. Our reporter Lisa Owen is there - she says speculation is mounting as the meeting continues longer than expected. PREREC IV
MPS UNITE IN CONDEMNATION
In New Zealand, MPs from all parties have condemned the hostage taking. In an at times emotional debate, MPs unanimously backed a motion from the Prime Minister condemning coup leader George Speight and supporting the Fiji constitution. Helen Clark told parliament it would be inappropriate for New Zealand to intervene militarily. She says the crisis must be resolved within the framework of the 1997 constitution, which she says gives special recognition to indigenous Fijians. audio
National's foreign affairs spokesperson Simon Upton endorsed Miss Clark's comments, telling parliament that George Speight's actions are contemptable and don't have a shred of legitimacy, But he warns that New Zealanders may find the coup is not resolved in a way that is constitutionally attractive. audio The Alliance leader Jim Anderton warns those involved in the coup. audio The ACT leader Richard Prebble, who lived and practised law in Fiji for two years, came close to tears when he spoke of the Fiji army. audio The Greens' foreign affairs spokesperson Keith Locke, backed the motion and dismissed George Speight as someone who doesn't represent indigenous Fijians. New Zealand First's deputy leader, Peter Brown says Speight is nothing but a terrorist, and United's Peter Dunne called for nothing less than a return to power of Fiji's democratically elected government. The unanimous motion will be immediately conveyed to the President of Fiji.
5.30 NEWS HEADLINES
WOMAN ESCAPES FROM ALLEGED SEXPLOITATION
A Thai woman told reporters in Auckland today how she escaped from a couple who she alleges were trying to force her to work in the sex industry. She spoke at a conference organised by the Human Rights Commission. Our reporter Julian Robins was there and he joins me now. LIVE
COUNCIL OF CHIEFS BACKGROUND
As you heard earlier, Fiji's Great Council of Chiefs is still meeting to discuss the attempted coup, which has seen coup leader George Speight and his armed men holed up in parliament with the prime minister as a hostage. Speight has said that he expects the Great Council of Chiefs to support him. But how likely is that - and what is the Great Council? Joining us now to talk about the role of the council is Dr Jonathon Frankel, a politics lecturer at the University of South Pacific in Fiji. LIVE