22 Dec 2006

Fiji's chiefs reach decision on how to resolve crisis but have yet to make it public

7:01 pm on 22 December 2006

Fiji's chiefs have reached an agreement on how best to resolve the country's political situation.

But it remains unclear exactly what the Great Council of Chiefs is proposing.

A delegation from the GCC was to go to the army camp to relay the decision of the three-day meeting in Suva.

The ousted general secretary of the council, Adi Litia Qionibaravi, sacked by the military last week, says the chiefs will not release any details of the resolutions until they have consulted the military commander, Commodore Frank Bainimarama.

The chiefs announced yesterday that they still recognised Laisenia Qarase as the lawful prime minister, a move that's seen as an open challenge to Commodore Bainimarama.

The GCC said it also recognised Ratu Josefa Iloilo as the president and Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi as the vice president, even though both were deposed in the December 5th coup.

Military spokesman, Major Neumi Leweni, reportedly said that the army didn't recognise the GCC because it couldn't guarantee immunity from prosecution for Commodore Bainimarama and troops involved in the takeover.