Fiji hostage talks resume

After a ten-day break in negotiations with gunmen holding hostages in the Fijian parliament, the military authorities in the capital, Suva, say they are again in direct talks.

An army spokesman described the move as a positive step towards ending the crisis, which began nearly a month ago when rebels led by a local businessman, George Speight, seized the elected Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry, and members of his administration.

Mr Chaudhry and about thirty other people are still being held by Mr Speight, who wants administrative power returned from ethnic Indians to indigenous Fijians. The army spokesman refused to say what had changed to justify re-opening talks with Mr Speight. The authorities said yesterday that they would not agree to one of Mr Speight's demands -- his inclusion in a civilian government to be announced during the coming week.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service