Fiji Adds to Security After Firefight

SUVA, Fiji — Security has been beefed up around Fiji’s parliamentary complex after a shootout between troops and rebels who have been holding the deposed prime minister and 26 other hostages there for six weeks, the military said today.

The 15-minute gun battle Tuesday occurred only hours after Fiji’s new prime minister, Laisenia Qarase, was sworn in and vowed that Fiji would not return to multiracial rule.

“In light of yesterday’s incident, we have reinforced security at our roadblocks and strongly advise people to stay away from the area around Parliament,” military spokesman Capt. Howard Politini said.

The military has said the shooting near Parliament was the result of a miscalculation by two inexperienced soldiers who strayed too close to the nationalist rebels, who stormed the building May 19 in the name of indigenous rights.