Detained Coup Leader Speight Wins Seat

By ANISH CHAND: September 5, 2001 Wansolwara Online (USP)

SUVA (Pasifik Nius): Coup leader George Speight today won the Tailevu North Fijian Communal seat he contested in the Fiji general election.

As he appeared at the Suva Magistrates Courts to answer lesser charges related to the coup, his seat was being counted at the Suva Grammar counting centre.

Speight, who contested this election under the name Ilikini Naitaini, polled 3232 votes to win the seat for his Conservative Alliance Matanitu Vanua party.

Speight's mate at the Nukulau island prison detention Ratu Timoci Silatolu lost the Rewa Fijian Communal seat to Ro Teimumu Kepa of the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua party.

Silatolu polled 1743 votes while Kepa got 2636.

The CAMV have so far won 5 seats in the elections.

Tally so far after 43 seats in the 71-seat Parliament have been declared: Fiji Labour Party (FLP) 21 seats Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL) 14 Conservative Alliance Matanitu Vanua (CAMV) 6 National Federation Party (NFP) 1 United General Party (UGP) 1

+++niuswire

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