Police hunt killers of Red Cross chief

Police are hunting the killers of Fiji's Red Cross chief, who played a major role in aiding hostages during last year's nationalist coup.

The mutilated bodies of John Scott and his companion Gregory Scrivener have been found in their home outside Suva.

A team of 60 police officers are investigating the deaths.

Mr Scott's servant, who found the bodies and called police, is helping with inquiries, he said.

Mr Scott played a central role in the coup drama in May 2000, serving at times as the sole outside link for lawmakers taken hostage by nationalist gunmen who stormed parliament.

The gunmen toppled the country's first ethnic Indian prime minister, saying they wanted to return power to indigenous Fijians.

Mr Scrivener's sister Janice Giles said he received a number of death threats.

Mahrendra Chaudhry, who was ousted as prime minister by the coup, said the country was shocked at the attack.

In Geneva, Hiroshi Higashiura, head of the Asia-Pacific Department at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, said Mr Scott "was devoted to the Red Cross humanitarian activities throughout his life".

He added: "We are devastated by this tragic news."