Hostage-Takers Detain 16 Reporters

Gunmen holding 27 government hostages briefly detained 16 journalists after Fiji’s military rulers spoke of plans to cut water, electricity and telephone lines to the besieged parliamentary compound. Guards armed with machine guns stopped the journalists from leaving the compound, where the hostages, including deposed Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, are being held. An hour later, the journalists were released, but the incident has raised fears that the gunmen might try to take more hostages in the crisis, which is now in its seventh week.