TV3 News

Tuesday, 6 June 2000, 6:18 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

Solomon Islands Coup - Indonesian Unrest - Fiji Coup - Burglary Crackdown - Clinton In Russia - Alliance Worries - Netball Selections - Olympic Flame

SOLOMON ISLANDS: A civil war appears to be underway in the Solomon Islands tonight. There are talks of around 1000 militants clashing near the airport. Malaitan's are fleeing Guadacanal and the violence. Foreign Affairs Officials attempts to negotiate a peaceful outcome appear to have failed. Ironically it was the Airport that brought Maliatan's to the area to assist with the construction of a WWII airfield. Phone lines out of the Solomons are still down but email can get out, oddly.

INDONESIA: Another conflict is brewing in Indonesia in Irian Jaya. Indonesia's President says he does not recognise the independence by a group today.

FIJI COUPO: Commodore Bainimarama delivers an ultimatum to Speight's gunmen -leave Speight now or lose your amnesty - they did not leave. Meanwhile a funeral is held for a police officer gunned down a week into the coup. Bainimarama has ruled out any military attempt to free the hostages. He also says if anything happens to the hostages then the amnesty deal is off for Speight.

BURGLARY CRACKDOWN: Burglary crackdown announced by Government. New money is going to be put into fighting burglary. Phil Goff says burglary is more than a property offence.

CLINTON IN RUSSIA: Bill Clinton has spent another day trying to get the Russian's to back his missile defence system. In the Ukraine he is greeted by thousands of people. Earlier in Moscow he spoke to the Russian Duma where he got a cold reception. The Russian's fear that

ALLIANCE WORRIES: The Alliance Caucus has spent the day working out how to battle on in opposition. On the one side it is worried about losing some of its key policies under pressure from business. On the other it is concerned about signing up to a protocol with the Greens. Anderton says his message to his team is don't panic. Helen Clark is calling for the issues to be put in perspective. Alliance policies have always been different that Government policies, she says.

NETBALL SELECTIONS: Former South African netballer Irene Van Dyk has been selected to play for the Silver Ferns. The Silver Ferns coach says she has showed her commitment. At her school her pupils are very proud of her.

OLYMPIC FLAME: Helen Clark puts out the Olympic Flame when she takes her turn in the Olympic Flame relay. She says it is because she was too fast. The flame was welcomed to Wellington by local Kaumatua. 100 Wellingtonians took turn with the flame today including film maker Peter Jackson.

© Scoop Media

Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

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