Fiji PM, Cabinet taken hostage
President declares emergency
SUVA, May 19 —Fiji’s President today declared a state of emergency in the South Pacific nation after a businessman took the Prime Minister hostage and claimed power in the name of indigenous Fijians.

(Left) A building burns in Suva, Fiji, on Friday in this image made from television and (Right) men, women and children rummage through goods from shops, after a group of armed civilians stormed the Parliament and seized Fiji's ethnic Indian Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and his cabinet colleagues.  — AFP photo

India expresses concern
NEW DELHI, May 19 — India today expressed dismay and regret at the attempted coup d’ etat in Fiji and demanded immediate restoration of the legitimately elected government led by Fijian Prime Minister Mahendra Pal Chaudhry.