Fiji gunmen free more captives

Freed hostages were driven out through the police cordon

Gunmen holding members of the Fijian Government hostage have released more of their captives, amid reports that the prime minister has agreed to stand down.

We had to sign the conditions, it was a condition of our release

John Ali, MP

Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and his cabinet have been held at gunpoint since Friday inside the parliament building in the capital, Suva.

The coup leader, George Speight, says he wants to oust Mr Chaudhry, Fiji's first ethnic Indian prime minister, in order to restore power to the indigenous Fijian majority.

Nine members of parliament, along with the prime minister's bodyguard, and 20 parlimentary workers have now been released.

Gunmen are still in control inside the parliament grounds

The MPs said they had resigned their posts in order to win their freedom.

The gunmen are trying to persuade the remaining ministers to do the same.

"Chaudhry has signed his resignation letter, which will allow him home to his family," Fijian radio reported.

Beaten up

Three local reporters who were allowed inside the parliament complex late on Saturday said the prime minister had a bruised right eye after being beaten by his captors.

It's an action myself and my group are willing to risk our lives for

George Speight

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

Mr Speight, a former insurance salesman and son of a prominent Fijian MP, has declared himself prime minister following his coup attempt.

"It's an action myself and my group are willing to risk our lives for," Mr Speight told reporters on Saturday night.

Speight says he won't surrender

He told local radio he was convinced the military would launch a night time rescue bid. None came, but a shot was heard and the building plunged into darkness.

A BBC correspondent in Suva says the coup attempt has little chance of success, given the apparent lack of support from the army, police and the public.

The Fiji Trade Union Congress is calling a nationwide strike on Monday in support of Mr Chaudhry.

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 said the streets of the capital were deserted at night, but the scars left by rioting and looting on Friday remain.

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

Warning

The President, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, earlier warned the hostage-takers that he would use all resources at his command to end the crisis and maintain the stability of the state.

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

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".