Fiji Rebels Take New Hostages; U.S. Pulls Envoy

Armed rebels claiming to support Fijian coup leader George Speight seized about 30 hostages this morning at a police station near the capital in the latest escalation of the island nation’s government crisis.

A spokesman for the new captors, Iferemi Tiko, told reporters that he was a cousin of Speight and that the latest hostage-taking was in support of Speight’s aims to disenfranchise ethnic Indians on the island. The captives included local soldiers, police and government officials.

There were no reports of injuries, and the rebels said bloodshed was not their intent.

Also today, the U.S. Embassy in Suva said ambassador Osman Siddique was being recalled to the United States for consultations.

“The United States continues to be deeply concerned about the current situation in Fiji,” the embassy said in a press release.

About 100 rebels armed with tire irons, steel pipes and other makeshift weapons took over a military checkpoint in Korovou, about 40 miles outside Suva, before confiscating six M-16 rifles and storming the town’s small police station.

The rebels demanded the resignation of military leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama, echoing one of Speight’s key demands.

“We will hold on here until he steps down. This takeover is from the people,” Tiko told reporters.

The army has given Speight and his supporters until midnight today to leave the area. They also shot and wounded five Speight supporters in a 15-minute gun battle Tuesday.

Tiko said he had asked Speight for “military advice” before taking the hostages.