Army ignores Speight, to set up Govt.

SUVA, JUNE 28. Fiji's military rulers today said they would appoint a new civilian Government in the island nation without further consultations with the gunmen holding 27 members of its ousted government hostage.

The move defied the hostage-takers, who had demanded a role in the interim government before releasing the hostages, including the deposed Prime Minister, Mr. Mahendra Chaudhry.

``Thousands of people are losing their jobs, (are) without food, and the whole country is being held to ransom,'' said the army's spokesman, Lt. Col. Filipo Tarakinikini. ``We are taking the most pragmatic steps under these circumstances.''

On Tuesday, the military issued an ultimatum giving the rebel leader, Mr. George Speight, 24 hours to agree to sign an accord that would pave the way for the immediate release of the hostages and establish procedures to appoint the new government.

But Col. Tarakinikini said the deadline passed today without a positive response from the rebels and that the army would name the new government on its own.

On May 19, the rebels stormed parliament and took the Government hostage.

The army took power 10 days after the ``coup'' by Mr. Speight in what it said was an attempt to keep the country from descending into anarchy.

Col. Tarakinikini said the army would retain executive power until the hostages were released. But he said the military would appoint an interim government, hopefully some time this week, that would rule for up to two years until new elections were scheduled.

Despite the decision to defy Mr. Speight's group, Col. Tarakinikini said ``the door is still open for negotiations''.

- AP, AFP

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