Fiji PM says drops amnesty bill for 2000 coup

SUVA, Nov 4: Fiji's prime minister today said he had dropped an amnesty bill for the perpetrators of a 2000 coup after threats by the influential military to remove him from office.

''I want to say that quite categorically now that there is no longer an amnesty provision in the new bill. It is a changed bill, substantially changed,'' Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase told reporters in the Fiji capital Suva.

Military commander Frank Bainimarama had demanded the prime minister drop two proposed bills or be forced from office, including the truth and reconciliation bill which included the amnesty provision.

Reuters