MPs freed in Fiji siege

Freed hostages were driven out through the police cordon

The leader of an attempted coup in Fiji has released five MPs after they resigned from the government - as the crisis enters its third day.

I'm going home

Assistant Minister of Information, Lekh Ram

George Speight is holding Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and some of his cabinet at gunpoint inside the parliament buildings in the capital, Suva.

The gunmen are trying to persuade the remaining ministers to resign in exchange for their freedom, local radio reports said.

Earlier, Mr Chaudhry collapsed, but was seen by a Red Cross medical team and was said to be fine and sleeping soundly.

Mr Speight, who says he represents the interests of indigenous Fijians, declared himself prime minister in a farcical ceremony on Saturday.

Coup collapses

But the uprising appears to have failed after the security forces and army threw their weight behind the elected government.

Gunmen are still in control inside the parliament grounds

Mr Speight, a former insurance salesman, told local radio that Mr Chaudhry had collapsed due to extreme stress.

Mr Speight added that the families of the other government hostages should have no fear for their safety.

Two junior ministers and three backbenchers walked free after they quit their posts and told their captors they were now civilians.

Assistant Minister of Information Lekh Ram, who was driven away in a police car, told reporters: "I'm going home."

Twenty parliamentary workers have also been released.

State-owned television showed ambulances driving up to the gates, apparently to collect the prime minister, but they were turned away.

Rigid curfew

The parliament building is surrounded by troops.

Police roadblocks are stationed on all major roads into Suva, as the dusk till dawn curfew is rigidly enforced.

A BBC correspondent says the streets of the capital are deserted, but the scars left by rioting and looting on Friday remain.

Speight says he won't surrender

Many shops are burnt out, others ransacked and anything of value stolen.

Jahir Kahn, assistant commissioner for the police-military operation guarding the streets, said the rebels had no support among the military.

"As far as we're concerned [Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara] is still our president. He's declared a state of emergency and we are working directly for him."

One of the hostages, Deputy Prime Minister Tupeni Baba, warned the military against storming parliament.

He said: "We understand the president has asked the army to intervene. This scenario would mean that if shooting takes place, we must expect the worst."

Warning

Mr Ratu Mara has said he will use all his resources to bring about "a just and peaceful solution" to the crisis.

In a televised address, he said the authorities would go to great lengths to avoid violent confrontation.

He also said he would address tensions between the country's indigenous Fijian and ethnic Indian communities.

Scuffle

Mr Speight has said he is acting against what he describes as a government dominated by politicians of Indian ethnic origin.

Prime Minister Chaudhry, who took power a year ago, is the country's first ethnic Indian leader.

During a televised ceremony to inaugurate his new administration, Mr Speight brought Mr Chaudhry to the parliament chamber.

Mr Chaudhry could be heard shouting loudly: "We are not legitimising anything."

Calls for security were heard, and there were sounds of Mr Chaudhry being bundled out of the room.

Mr Speight later said that any reports that Mr Chaudhry had been manhandled or injured were "scandalous".