Fiji's former president fled to his island home yesterday as the country's new military ruler postponed the planned swearing-in of an interim civil administration and ruled out restoring the prime minister to power.
President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara fled to his remote Pacific island home in fear of his life, police sources said yesterday.
The wife of the Prime Minister, Mr Mahendra Chaudhry, reportedly has been offered sanctuary by Mr Mara's family on Lakeba, in the Lau group of islands, 200km east of Suva. The 80-year-old president was flown by helicopter to Lakeba, the southernmost Fijian island, of which he is high chief, a police source said.
President Mara stepped down from his post on Monday after martial law was declared, following the May 19th coup by Mr George Speight, who continues to hold Mr Chaudhry and up to 35 legislators hostage in parliament