Military Chief Names Interim Government

Fiji’s military leader appointed a temporary civilian government in defiance of hostage-takers who had demanded a role in naming it, but said he would remain head of state until the hostages are released. Notably absent from the new government lineup were members of Fiji’s Indian minority, who have been stripped of most political power since rebels stormed parliament on May 19 and took the Indian-led government hostage. “We approached two well-qualified members of the Indian community but they declined,” said Commodore Frank Bainimarama, the military commander who assumed power in the South Pacific nation 10 days after the parliament raid.