Speight accepts deal, hostages may be freed today

"We definitely reached an agreement," Brown told reporters at the gates of vice-president’s residence, where talks have been going on for several days.

The military has been running Fiji since declaring martial law on May 29.

Chaudhry, his cabinet and Government, have been held hostage since May 19 when Speight and a military group seized Parliament.

Meanwhile, life in Parliament continues with members of the elite Counter Revolutionary Warfare (CRW) unit now coaching civilians, including children, in military technique.

Fiji Times reporter Akanisi Motufaga was allowed to watch the 16 ethnic Indian hostages as they took an afternoon walk around the upper parliamentary compound.

She said Chaudhry looked "haggard and dejected" as he "shuffled along with his head bowed and shoulders stooped. "He did not look up nor talk to anyone during the 15-minute walk."

The 57-year-old looked as if he had lost weight, was unshaven and appeared to have aged. "He was not the same man who only two months ago strode purposefully along the same corridors on Government business," the Fiji Times reported.

Other members of the Government, including the Prime Minister’s son Rajendra Chaudhry, walked together. Attorney-General Anand Singh walked briskly along.

A church delegation had visited the group before the exercise and Singh, through a security guard, said "it was good". Vinod Majaraj, another hostage, added: "They made us feel a lot better."

The Indian hostages are allowed to walk out of the ground floor office block they are held in at 5 am and 4 pm every day.

The Fijian hostages, who are held in the parliamentary chamber itself, are allowed to exercise whenever they wish.

On Wednesday a Tongan Catholic priest was allowed in to give communion to the Christians – both ethnic Indian and Fijian – being held hostage.

The Fiji Red Cross arrives daily with parcels and letters from families. It is known that not all of the gifts are delivered and some books – such as Nelson Mandela’s biography – have not been allowed in.

Much of daily life inside the compound is controlled by ex-British Army Special Air Services soldier Ilisoni Ligairi who is increasingly being seen in the open now that his cover has been lifted.

Diplomatic sources here say that he runs in doctrination lessons each morning for the 56 serving soldiers inside the compound.