FIJI COUP: Breakthrough? - Maori Activist - OTHER NEWS: Anita Faisandier - Resistant TB - Truck Smash - Cuban Boy -
Arctic Baloonist
FIJI COUP - BREAKTHROUGH?: Maori activist Tame Iti is in Suva. Speight is now promising to release his hostages before
Monday. Stephen Parker in Suva: So far the talk of the breakthrough is only talk. Army and rebels appear to have
declared a truce. The breakthrough came in talks last night. Speight believes the GCC will select him as the leader of a
new government. Fiji is rapidly losing support in the international community. Don McKinnon is critical - "40% of the
population haven't even been part of discussions". Hostages visited by Red Cross again today. The details of what kind
of government will be formed is still being negotiated. Half the population has been disenfranchised. While hostages
remain in captivity we are not hearing much from Indian community. That may change after the hostages are released.
FIJI COUP - MAORI ACTIVIST: Speight says that he and Tame Iti are partners. In Fiji we have a better chance of achieving
the aims, he says. "They are not as fortunate as I am, but they are on the same crusade." Tame Iti says he also approves
of the way George Speight has gained control. "We have a history in our country - the government we have in NZ got what
they want through the barrel of a gun".
ANITA FAISANDIER: White collar criminal Anita Faisandier is jailed for 3.5 years. The judge John Dahlmer says that
Faisandier lived in a dream world. Judge Dahlmer says he accepted that she did not mean any harm.
RESISTANT TB: A patient with multi resistant TB has been isolated in Christchurch hospital. Especially powerful drugs
are needed to combat the bug. Canterbury's Medical Officer of Health says he thinks no-one else has been infected from
this one case.
TRUCK SMASH: SH1 north of Taupo has been closed all day after two trucks crashed and caught fire.
CUBAN BOY: Cuban boy Elian Gonzalez is one step closer to returning home to Cuba with the result of an appeal court
decision dismissing Gonzalez's American relatives attempts to keep him in the US. Lawyers say they may fight on however.
ARCTIC BALOONIST: A British balloonist has flown within a few kilometers of the North Pole. 12.9 miles from the pole was
close than the group expected to be able to get. The explorer is now on his way home.