Tense stand-off in Fiji

Gunmen allowed journalists through the gates

A tense stand-off continues in Fiji where gunmen attempting to overthrow the government are holding the prime minister and 11 other hostages at gunpoint for a third night.

The streets of the capital, Suva, are quiet as large numbers of police and soldiers enforce a dusk-to-dawn curfew.

I am giving the world my word... I am guaranteeing their safety

George Speight

But earlier, shots were heard near the parliament complex, where the hostages are being held.

The rebels are seeking to replace the government of ethnic Indian Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry with a leadership composed of members of Fiji's indigenous population.

'Execution' claims

President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara said after a telephone conversation with the leader of the rebels, George Speight, that they were threatening to execute the hostages one by one, unless he relinquishes power.

Fijian journalists are banned from reporting Mr Speight's statements

Among the hostages are Mr Chaudhry and his son, and President Ratu Mara's daughter.

The president added, in a televised address to the nation, that he had refused to bow to the rebels' demand.

One of a group of hostages released on Saturday night, Associate Minister of Information Lekh Ram Veyeshni, said that Mr Speight had held a "machine gun" to his head and made him sign his resignation.

However, Mr Speight - who has declared himself interim prime minister - said such reports were "crazy".

"I am giving the world my word... I am guaranteeing their safety," he told reporters at the parliament complex.

Shots

Shots rang out as rebels hustled reporters into the parliament complex in defiance of President Ratu Mara's attempts to sever Mr Speight's contacts with the media.

George Speight wants indigenous Fijians to run the country

Police said the shots were fired into the air from within the parliament complex, and that no-one was hurt.

However, Mr Speight said they came from outside.

Journalists have been banned by a presidential decree from reporting Mr Speight's statements, and television cameras have been told to move one kilometre from the parliament.

Security concerns

Worries about security have prompted the British Consulate to urge UK citizens not to leave their hotels in Suva unless they have to.

Mr Chaudhry is the country's first ethnic Indian PM

The president has said members of a special "counter-revolutionary warfare unit" are involved in the bid to seize power.

But he says Fiji has the personnel to end the uprising and does not need outside help.

The crisis began when the gunmen burst into parliament on Friday.

Nine MPs were released on Saturday night after signing an agreement to resign. The prime minister's bodyguard and 20 parliamentary workers were also freed.

Mr Chaudhry is the first ethnic Indian prime minister in Fiji, where 43% of people are of Indian origin.

Strike

Nationalist opposition groups have come out in support of the gunmen, and have demanded the resignation of the president.

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

Inside parliament

12 hostages

Including: PM, PM's son, president's daughter

Up to 25 armed men

The 57-year-old prime minister is said to be mentally and physically exhausted after being held at gunpoint for three days. At one point he collapsed.

The BBC's Phil Mercer in Suva says there is a chance the crisis may be resolved on Tuesday, when the Great Council of Chiefs will meet to discuss the situation.

The meeting would have to be chaired by former prime minister and chief negotiator in the impasse, Sitiveni Rabuka - who himself led a coup in 1987.