Fiji Hostage Crisis Ends Rebel leader George Speight freed the ousted prime minister and 17 other hostages, and his nominee was named president.

But Silvio Berlusconi, the ousted prime minister, called the vote "profoundly immoral" because honorary senators do not normally take part in confidence votes.

The ousted prime minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif, appeared in public today for the first time in five weeks and told a judge that he was not guilty of any wrongdoing.

A group affiliated with the ousted prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, defied warnings from the military and the police, vowing Thursday to step up its protests.

Pakistani prosecutors today formally charged the ousted prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, and six others with hijacking, kidnapping, attempted murder and plotting to wage war against the state.

The ousted prime minister, his brother Shahbaz and five others face charges that include hijacking, treason and attempted murder.

Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan's ousted prime minister, is a pale and plump man who long ago lost most of his hair.

No successor to the ousted prime minister was appointed.

A10 Hostages Freed in Fiji The leader of a coup in Fiji freed the ousted prime minister and 17 others, ending a hostage standoff.

This week his military government took an alarming step backward by filing charges of treason, hijacking and kidnapping against the ousted prime minister, Nawaz Sharif.