The World - News from Sept. 30, 1987

Fiji’s army commander, Col. Sitiveni Rabuka, declared Fiji a republic and appointed himself head of state. In a national radio address, he said the South Pacific island nation is severing constitutional ties with Britain. Rabuka, who led a coup May 14 and again last week, said he will appoint an interim council of ministers to rule until a new constitution is drawn up to guarantee political dominance by ethnic Fijians over a slightly larger Indian population.