Pro-rebel protests in Fiji as deadline nears

SUVA, JULY 8. Fijian villagers today stormed a police station and seized hostages as protests spread across the pacific island nation in support of the rebel leader, Mr. George Speight.

The protests raised the pressure on Fiji's military leaders ahead of a midnight deadline they had set for Mr. Speight's armed group to free 27 political hostages, including the deposed Prime Minister, Mr. Mahendra Chaudhry. ``We want people to understand that we are doing the utmost to fix the situation,'' the military spokesman, Major Howard Politini, told Reuters.

In what appeared to be the most serious pro-rebel action, villagers stormed a police station and took up to 30 hostages, including some police officers. It was one of at least four protests around the country in support of Mr. Speight, who stormed Parliament and took Mr. Chaudhry and members of his multi-ethnic Cabinet hostage in the name of indigenous rights.

The deadline for Mr. Speight to free his hostages has already been extended from Friday. Major Politini said the military expected to hold further talks with the rebels today seeking a deal that could lead to the hostages' release on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the United States today said that its Ambassador to Fiji, Mr. Osman Siddique, had been recalled for consultations on the political crisis and repeated it was considering steps that could have a ``serious impact'' on the island nation.

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