Political hostages held in Fiji since May 19th edged closer to freedom yesterday after the ruling military announced a deal with rebels holding them captive over who will run the racially divided South Pacific island.
Military council head Commodore Frank Bainimarama and civilian coup leader Mr George Speight, who claims power in the name of indigenous Fijians, agreed to leave the decision on Fiji's political future to the Great Council of Chiefs.
The pair then celebrated over a bowl of kava, a mildly narcotic drink at the centre of many Fijian customs.
The military said the hostages might not have to wait for a full political settlement before they were released.
Mr Speight is holding Fiji's first ethnic Indian Prime Minister, Mr Mahendra Chaudhry, and around 30 of his government.
"We have had a very major breakthrough," said military spokesman Capt Eroni Volavola. "I think we can say that within the next 24 to 36 hours, you'll start seeing a lot of very positive things coming out from parliament."
Asked if one of the positive things could be the release of the hostages, he said: "That could be one of them."
The indigenous tribal elders, to meet either tomorrow or Monday, would choose between a military government or an interim civilian administration, military council spokesman Col Filipo Tarakinikini said. "They now have two proposals to put before the Great Council of Chiefs, which will decide which one to adopt," he said.
"There might be a move towards releasing the hostages before the Great Council of Chiefs meeting."
Mr Speight said he expected Monday to be the key day for Fiji's future and did not rule out an earlier release of the hostages.
Commodore Bainimarama has sought to limit the involvement of the rebels in any interim government but Mr Speight says his self-styled Taukei Civilian Government should lead the country.
The drafting of a new constitution and the subsequent holding of elections mean it could be three years before Fiji returns to any form of democracy.
Capt Volavola said the armed forces were prepared to stand aside once Mr Speight's men freed the hostages and handed over their guns, and an interim government was appointed.
"Once we have achieved that . . . we'll happily go back to civilian rule." The breakthrough followed the first face-to-face meeting between Commodore Bainimarama and Mr Speight, who travelled several kilometres to the military headquarters - a rare outing from his stronghold at parliament.
"They are now drinking grog with members of Mr Speight's team, senior officers and members of the Great Council of Chiefs," Capt Volavola said, after the deal was struck.
The military took control of Fiji on Monday to quell rising violence but has since made several concessions to Mr Speight - including revoking the 1997 multi-racial constitution that opened the job of prime minister to ethnic Indians.
A sticking point has been how many of Speight's supporters will be granted an amnesty for the seizure of the hostages.
The military sought to limit it to Mr Speight and the handful of gunmen who took over parliament on May 19th. Mr Speight wants the amnesty extended to the wider group.
Local journalists say some of Mr Speight's gunmen are from an elite antiterrorist unit within Fiji's military.
Ethnic Indians make up 44 per cent of Fiji's 800,000 population and dominate the sugar and tourism-driven economy. Mr Speight is demanding political dominance and stronger land rights for indigenous Fijians.
The military takeover came after a mob rampaged through Suva last Sunday, killing a policeman and ransacking state-owned Fiji TV.
Checkpoints around parliament were bolstered by the military yesterday.