7 Jun 2004

Fiji's Prime Minister and the Labour leader hold talks today

7:45 am on 7 June 2004

Talks between Fiji's Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase, and the Labour leader, Mahendra Chaudhry, are due to resume today.

This is despite Mr Qarase accusing Mr Chaudhry of having a personal agenda aimed at destroying the country.

The comments came after Labour boycotted two new parliamentary select committees-- one to rescue the ailing sugar industry and the second to resolve land lease problems.

But the Daily Post reports that Mr Qarase held a prayer breakfast on Saturday and prayed for the aborted sugar and land talks to conclude successfully.

Mr Qarase said land and sugar were the most pressing problems in Fiji and God knew that.

The Post says after the prayers, Mr Chaudhry said he would meet Mr Qarase to resolve the impasse.