NEWS WITH CATRIONA MCLEOD.
There are major new developments in the Fiji crisis this evening. Seventeen Military officers have appeared at the gates of Parliament and are meeting with George Speight who is holding the prime minister and more than 30 MPs hostage. And armed troops are appearing in the streets of Suva, replacing police on checkpoints around the hostage scene at parliament. With the latest from the scene is our reporter Lisa Owen, liver
We cross now to our reporter Barbara Dreaver, who is now at a police checkpoint in central Suva. liver
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Phil Goff joins me now. liver
The official spokesperson for the legitimate Government, Ratu Tevita Momoedonu also rejects the resolutions of the Great Council of chiefs and says that stand's left him fearing for his safety. Ratu Momoedonu says that replacing Mahendra Choudry, offering a pardon to George Speight and setting up a new parliament all breach the 1997 constitution and are therefore illegal. He says that the constitution does not allow for the government to be replaced by order of the chiefs because it is undemocratic. Ratu Momoedonu, speaking to Checkpoint from where he is in hiding, says he and his family are recieving threats. prerec
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The Employers Federation says most employers will be delighted to hear that the Prime Minister Helen Clark is willing to meet their concerns over the Employment Relations Bill. The Prime Minister's offices has signalled a willingness to soften the Bill in response to the thousands of submissions it's attracted, many opposed to the new law. Simon Holdsworth, the immediate past president of the Federation says it's not at loggerheads with the Government over the legislation, and rejects the Labour Minister's accusations that there is a campaign of misinformation. PREREC
The Department of Corrections is defending its decision not to let adult inmates enrol in any external education programmes, such as the Correspondence School. The Green Party justice spokesperson Nandor Tanczos has revealed the move came into effect at the end of March - and he wants it reversed. Here's our justice reporter, Tony Reid. pkg
Returning to our lead story - and there are major new developments in the Fiji crisis this evening. Seventeen Military officers have appeared at Parliament and pledged their support to coup leader George Speight who is holding the prime minister and more than 30 MPs hostage. The move comes as international condemnation intensifies of both the coup and the great council of chiefs attempt to appease the rebels by offering to get rid of the democratically elected government and the new constitution. The UN, New Zealand, Australia, Britain and the United States are united in their condemnation - an emergency meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group has been convened to discuss events in Fiji. The Commonwealth's Secretary General Don McKinnon says he's still hoping for the unconditional release of the hostages. audio Australia's Foreign Minister Alexander Downer is threatening Fiji with economic sanctions and a halt to aid. audio.
But the rebels are unmoved by the condemnation. Joe Nada is a spokesperson for George Speight - Speight has appointed him as his Minister of Information and he told Kim Hill that the rebels' three key demands still need to be satisfied. AUDIO
We cross now to our reporter Barbara Dreaver, who is now at a police checkpoint in central Suva. LIVE
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