M A I N   N E W S

RJD, Cong boycott meeting

PATNA, June 25 (PTI) — In a tit-for-tat move, the Rashtriya Janata Dal and its allies — the Congress and the Left parties — today boycotted the all-party meeting called by Union Agriculture Minister Nitish Kumar at the behest of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee called for concerted efforts to restore peace and social harmony in Bihar plagued by cycle of caste violence.

The boycott comes three days after the BJP and its NDA allies JD (U) and the Samata, besides the CPI (ML) (Liberation) stayed away from the all-party meeting called by state Chief Minister Rabri Devi to draw an action plan to check the recent string of carnages in Bihar.

The meeting decided to set up an all-party committee for peace and undertake peace marches in the trouble-torn areas of central Bihar districts to establish the bonds of social harmony to stop the senseless caste killings.

Addressing the meeting, Mr Nitish Kumar said concerted and effective efforts were required to prevent frequent caste killings in Nawada and Aurangabad districts.

Fiji rebels release four hostages

SUVA, June 25 (AP) — Gunmen holding Fiji’s deposed Prime Minister and 30 others as hostages released four female captives today but gave no commitment when they would free the remaining 27 hostages.

The four women, including three ministers, left the parliamentary complex where 31 hostages have been held for the past 37 days at about 2:30 a.m. (2000 IST Saturday), officials said.

Under heavy police escort, they were first taken to see family members, then to a team of trauma specialists who gave them medical check-ups and counselling, officials said.

John Scott, head of the Fiji Red Cross, said he had spoken with two of the women and that they sounded “pretty cheerful.”

“I’m thankful to the Lord for making this day possible,” said Lavenia Wainiqolo Padarath, one of the freed hostages, outside a church service she attended today with her family.